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52d CSoNGRESS, ) SENATE. ( Mis. Doc. 

1st Sensiou. \ \ No. 192. 



REPORT 



OF THE 



COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES 



UELATIVE TO 



THE SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



July 5, 1H92. — Kefened to the Cominitteo on Fish jiud Fisherios 
ami ordereil to ho printed. 



WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
1892. 



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S. Mis. Doc. No. 103— .'52 1 Salmon Fisheries of Alaska. (To face page 3.) 



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REPORT ON THE SALMON FISHF.RIES OP ALASKA 



HY MARSHALL MCDONALD, 
U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. 



U. S, Commission of Fish and Fisheries, 

WmhingtoH, D. C, July a, 1892. 
Hon. Levi P. Morton, 

President United States Senate . 
Sir: In obedieuce to a resolution of the. Senate of the United States, directing 
the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries "to communicate to tlic Senate any informa- 
tion in his j)ossession relative to salmon fishing in Alaska, its extent, and whether the 
methods employed in catching salmon are likely to diminish the supply and eventually 
exterminate the salmon; together with his opinion as to what measures should be 
adopted for the protection and preservation of the salmon industry in Alaskan waters," 
I have the honor to transmit herewith a brief report, discussing the subject under the 
following ca^jtions: 

1. Origin and development of the Alaskan salmon fisheries. 

2. Statistics of the fisheries. 

3. Present condition of the fisheries. 

4. The methods and ajjparatus employed. 

5. The protective regulation of the fisheries, including recommendations as to 
further legislation in reference to them. 

Ai)pended to this communication, and making a part of it, is a paper upon the 
life history of the salmon, by Dr. T. II. I!ean, ichthyologist of the Commissiim. For 
convenience of reference I have also appended a bibliography, as far as could be ascer- 
tained in the limited time at my disposal, of publications relating to the salmon of 
Alaska and adjacent waters. 

origin and development of the ALASKAN SALMON FISHERIES. 

The marvelous abundance of several species of salmon in Alaskan waters has 
been long known, but in conse(iuence of the remoteness of this region and its inacces- 
sibility, the abundant supply in rivers nearer markets, and a disposition on the part 
of buyers to underrate Alaskan products, its fishery resources have not been laid under 
contribution for market supply until within a tew years, during which we have seen, 
as the result of reckless and improvident fishing, the practical destruction of the 
salmon fisheries of the Sacramento and the reduction of the take on the Columbia to 
less than one-half of what it was in the early history of the salmon-canning industry 



4 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

on that river. At preseut the streams of Alaska furnish the hirgcr proportion of the 
canned salmon which find their way to the markets. 

The pioneer in the early development of the salinou-canning industry in Alaskan 
waters was the Alaska Commercial <Jomi)any, which in 1887 estabUshed a cannery on 
Karluk Eiver on the west side of Kadiak Island, and i)acked about 13,000 cases of 
salmon. The enterprise proved exceedingly profitable, and operations were rapidly 
extended so that the pack of this comjiany on tlie Karluk Eiver in 1888 aggregated 
101,000 cases of 4S pounds each, representing a catch of over 1,200,000 blucbacks or 
red salmon in the estnary of a small stream, with a volume and drainage area not 
exceeding that of Eock Creek (the small stream flowing through the Zoological Park 
and discharging into the Potomac llivcr within the city limits of Washington, D. C). 
The enormous production of this year was secured by entirely obstructing the river 
by running a fence across so that no fish could pass up, and by continuing canning 
operations without intermission until late in October, wlieu mostof tJie fish were dark 
and unfit for food. 

The immense pack made by the Alaska Commercial Comj)any in 1887 and 1888, the 
fame of which quickly extended to San Francisco, had two important results. The 
attention of Congress was directed to the inc\itable disaster tliat would overtake the 
salmon fisheries of Alaska unless prompt measures were taken to restrain the improv 
ident and destructive methods employed for the capture of the salmon. Accordingly, 
upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Fisheries, an act for the protection 
of the salmon fisheries of Alaska was introduced into Congress and became a law on 
March 2, 1892, as follows : 

AN ACT TO I'liOVIDK FOR THE I'UOTKCTION OF TIIK SALMON FISHEEMS OF ALASKA. 

Be it enacted hi/ the Senate and Souse of llepresentatires of the United States of America in Congress 
assembled, That the crectinu of dams, banicadrs, or dtbcr obstnictions in any of the rivers of Alaska, 
with the jmrposo or rcsnlt ol' preventing or impeding the ascent of sahnon or other anadromons species 
to their spawning-gronnds, is hereby declared to be nnlawful, and the Secretary of the Treasury is 
hereby authorized and directed to establish such regulations and surveillance as may be necessary to 
insure that this prohibition is strictly enforced and to otherwise protect the salmon fisheries of 
Alaska; and every i)erson who shall b(^ found guilty of a violation of the provisions of this section 
shall be fined not less than $250 for each day of the continuance of such obstruction. 

Skc. 2. That the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries is hereby empowered and directed to insti- 
tute an investigation into the habits, abundance, and distribution of the salmon of Alaska, as well as 
the present conditions and methods of the fisheries, with a view of recommending to Congre.ss such 
additional legislation as may be necessary to prevent the impairment or exhaustion of these valuable 
fisheries, and placing them under regular and |>ennaneut condition.s of i>roduction. 

Sec. 3. That section 1956 of the Kevised Statutes of the United States is hereby declared to 
include and ajijdy to all thi' dominion of the United States in the waters of Bering Sea; and it shall 
be the duty of the President, at a timely season in each year, to issue his proclamation and cause the 
same to be published for one montli in at least one newsj)a.per, if any such there be, published at each 
United States port of entry on the Pacific coast, warning all persons against entering said waters for 
the purpose of violating the provisions of said section ; and he shall also cause one or more vessels of 
the United States to diligently cruise said waters and arrest all persons, and seize all vessels found to 
be, or to have been, engaged in any violation of the la^^•s of the United States therein. 

Approved, March 2, 1889. 

This act, though authorizing and directing the Secretary of the Treasury to estab- 
lish such regirlations and surveillance as should be necessary to insure that the pro- 



SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 6 

hibitioii woiikl lio enforced, neither prescribed the machinery nor appropriated the 
means to carry it into ett'ect. Some restraint has doubtless been imposed upon 
attempts at violation of the law where they are likely to come under observation, but 
it is ])rol)ably violated without liesitation or scruple where the chance of discovery is 
casual or lemote. 



STATISTICS OF THE FISHERIES. 

The immense take of salmon in the estuary of the Karluk River in 1SS7 and 1888, 
had the additional result of attracting attention to a ticld promising such extrava- 
gant retiu'ns for the capital invested. More than 30 new canneries were estab- 
lished during the season of 18S9. Five were located on the sand-spit at the mouth of 
the Karluk Eiver, and 3 others so near as to draw their supplies from that source. 
Over 350,000 cases of red salmon, representing 4,000,000 of fish, were taken from this 
insignificant rivulet in 1889, and sent into the markets of the world. During this 
season there were 30 canneries in operation in Alaska, and the value of the salmon 
pack amounted to $3,375,000. 

The following table, showing the Alaskan salmon pack from 1883, when systematic 
canning operations were first instituted, to 1890, after they had probably reached 
their largest development, is very interesting as well as suggestive; interesting, as 
illustrating the wonderful wealth of the waters; suggestive, because we know that it 
has been accomplished by irrational and destructive methods, and by imi)rovideut, 
willful, and contemptuous disregard of natural laws, whose aid and unobstructed 
operation are essential to the maintenance of a continuing and productive salmoii 
fishery in Alaska. 

The Alaska salmon jtack from 1S83 to 1S90. 



Tear. 


Number of 

cases. 


Tear. 


Number 'of 

cases. 


1883 


36, ODD 
45, 000 
74, 850 
120, 700 


1887 


190, 200 

298, 000 

■ 675. 000 

610. 747 


1884 


1888 


1885 


1889 


1886 


1890 







A review of the statistics of the salmon pack of Alaska from 1883 to 1890, com- 
piled from data gathered by the division of fisheries of the U. S. Fish Commission, 
shows that the total yield of the salmon fisheries of this region from 1883 to 1890, both 
inclusive, was 2,050,197 cases of 48 pounds each, representing an aggregate i^rodnction 
of 28,700,958 salmon within the period mentioned. During the first three years the 
pack was small, viz, 3(i,000 cases in 1883, 45,000 cases in 1884, and 74,850 cases in 1885. 
After this the increase in production was phenomenal, and in 1889 had reached the 
enormous amount of 075,000. Production in the subseciuent years receded slightly, 
Init the aggregate for IS'.IO and 1891 did not fall much short of the pack of 1889. Of 
the entire Alaskan yield, about one half is taken from the estuary of the Karluk River. 
Adding theju'oduct of 1891 to the aggregate for ])revi(ms years, we have a total yield of 
canned salmon since 1SS3, when regular canning began, amounting to nearly 2,750,000 
cases, and a total valiu' of .f 11,000,000. 



6 SALMON FISHERIES OP ALASKA. 

Besidfs the caiiiietl salmon, the rivers of Ahiska yichl annually nearly 7,000 har- 
rels of 200 pounds each of salt salmon. When we aild to the above production the 
enormous quantities of salmon which are consumed by the natives, in the fresh and 
dried condition, we shall be able to form some adequate idea of the immense value of 
the Alaskan salmon, and the importance of fostering and estal dishing conditions of 
permanence for this great resource. 

In 1889 the salmon fishery gave employment to 00 vessels, including 13 steamers, 
13 barks, 2 brigs, and 1 ship. Thirty-six canneries were in active operation, not 
counting a number of small establishments whose i)ack was light, and incidental to 
general trading with the natives. The capital stock of these canning companies 
ranged from $75,000 to $300,000. The estimated capital was $4,000,000, and the value 
of the pack $3,375,000. 

PRESENT CONDITION OF THE FISHERIES. 
OBSTKUCTIONS IN TIIK ItlVEKS. 

Early in April, 1890, information reached the Commissioner of Fisheries in regard 
to a salmon trap, the construction of which had been determined upon by four can- 
nery firms located on the Nushagak River. About '2'> miles from the mouth of this 
river is a tributary known as Wood Eiver, into which most of the salmon entering 
the Nushagak make their way for the i>urpose of si)awning in the two large lakes at 
its head. Believing that such action was a violation of the act of Congress approved 
March 2, 1889, providing for the protection of the salmon fisheries of Alaska, the 
Commissioner transmitted the information to the Secretary of the Treasury with the 
suggestion that the necessary steps be taken by some of the Treasury officials in that 
regiim. The matter was refeiredto the chief of the lievenue-Marinc division with the 
recommendation that if possible the captain of one of the Revenue-Marine steamers 
cruising in Alaskan waters be dii'ected to make an investigation, and, if necessary, 
have the obstiuctions removed and the guilty parties arrested and piosecuted. 

On April 12 the chief of the Revenue-Marine division returned the corresi)oudeuce 
to the Commissioner of Fisheries with the information that the commanding officers of 
the Revenue-Marine steamers cruising in Alaskan waters during the ensuing season 
would be instructed to enforce the law for the x)rotection of the fisheries as far as cir- 
cumstances would permit. He suggested also that the commanding officer of the Fish 
Commission steamer Albatross be instructed to investigate the complaint and enforce the 
law if found necessary. Inasmuch as the Commissioner of Fisheries did not have 
authority to give directions for the enforcement of the law, he wrote to the chief of the 
Revenue-Marine division on April 17 that if the Secretary desired to confer the neces- 
sary authority upon the commanding officer of this Albatross, Lieut. Commander Z. L. 
Tanner, U. S. Navy, he would take pleasure in forwarding the same. On the follow- 
ing day, therefore, the acting Secretary of the Treasury, Hon. George S. Batchellcr, 
forwarded to the Commissioner of Fisheries the following order, clothing the com- 
mander of the Albatross with the necessary authority to act in the matter, inclosing 
at the sam^^ time copies of Treasury circular of March l(i, 1889, in relation to the 
matter. 



SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 7 

Treasury Depaktmknt, Office of the Secretary, 

Washington, D. C, April IS, 1890. 
Sir: You are hereby clothed with full pownr and autliority to enforce the provisions of law con- 
tained in act of Congress approved March 2, IW!), providing for the protection of the salmon fisheries 
of Alaska, which prohibits the erection of dams, barricades, or other obstructions in any of the rivers 
of Alaska, with the purpose or result of preventing or impeding the ascent of salmon or other anad- 
romons species to their spawning-grounds. 
Respectfully, yours, 

Geo. S. Batcheller, 

Acting Secretary. 
Lieut. Commander Z. L. Tanner, 

Commanding V. S. Fish Commin«iun Steamer .Albatross, 

Sail Francisco, Cal. 

Treasury Department, Office op the Secretary, 

Washington, I). C, March 16, 1SS9. 
To Collectors axi> other Officers of the Customs: 

The followiug provision of the act approved March 2, 1889, entitled "An act to provide for the 
protection of the salmon fisheries of Alaska " is hereby published for the information and guidance of 
all concerned : 

" Tliat the erection of dams, barricades, or other obstructions iu any of the rivers of Alaska, with 
the purpose or result of preventing or impeding the ascent of salmon or other anadromous species to 
their spawning-grounds, is hereby declared to be unlawful, and the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby 
authorized and directed to establish such regul.itions and surveillance as may be necessary to insure 
that this prohibition is strictly enf(irc(Hl and to othervrise protect the salmon fisheries of Alaska; and 
every person who shall be found guilty of a violation of the provisions of this section shall be fined 
not less than $2.^0 for each day of the continuance of such obstruction." 

CNdlectors and other officers of the customs, and officers under the jurisdiction of this Department 
who may be assigned to duty iu Alaska, will see that the requirements of said secticm are strictly 
observed, and that no dams, barricades, or other obstructions are placed in ,any of the rivers of Alaska 
with the ]iurpose <u' result of preventing or impeding the ascent of salmon or other anadromous 
species to their spawniug-gronnds; and should any such dams, barricades, or other obstructions be 
discovered, to warn the persons who erected the same to immediately remove them and thereafter report 
the persons (with statement of facts) to the United States attorney of Alaska for prosecution under 
the said section, and also to forward duplicate reports to this Department for its information. 

Officers of the Revenue-M.ariue Service on duty in Alaskan waters are hereby recjuired, so far as 
practicable, to assist officers of the customs iu Alaska iu .seeing that the requirements of the statute 
are strictly enforced. 

Hugh S. Thompson, 

Acting Secretary, 

Ou April 23 a letter of instructions was forwarded to Lieut. Commander Tanner, 
calling his attention to the existence of a trap or dam on Wood River, as also to the 
order of the Secretary of the Treasury directing the Revenue-Marine steamers to 
enforce the law as far as circumstances would permit, and to the request that the 
steamer Alhatronn make an investigation and carry out the provisions of the law in 
case of its viohitiou. Lieut. Commander Tanner M'as directed to make this one of the 
flr.st objects of his cruise in Bering Sea, and to comply with the instructions of the 
Secretary of the Treasury as fnlly as possible. The report of Lieut. Commander Tan- 
ner, after making the investigation, was as follows : 

Unalaska, Alaska Territory, June 15, 1S90. 
Hon. Marshall M<;Donald, 

U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, Washington, D. C. : 

Dkar .Sir: 1 have the honor to inform you that the .ilhatross anchored in the Nushagak River on 

June 3. 1 visited the four cauneri<'s loi^ated on that stream the followiug diiy. They use gill nets 



8 



SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



almost excliisivfly in taking snliiioii, altliough tliipo of them have a small trap in the immediate 
vicinity of their estaliliMlimeuts. Tliey are all dry at low tide, and when tish are found in them men 
go in and jiick them u}) from the ground. 

The fourth cannery had a trap formerly, hut did not find it jirofitahle. Nothing that cau be called 
an obstacle to the free passage of salmon exists in the Nushagak Kiver. 

I learned from Mr. .1. W. Clark, one of the projectors, and others, that a nnion trap was in process 
of construction in Wood River, aud in order to ascertain the character and present condition of the 
work I took Mr. P. H. .Johnscm, who has charge of the enterprise, and Mr. Clark, in one of the ship'8 
boats, and steamed to the point indicated, which I found to be about 20 miles above its month. 

Wood Kiver at that point is a stream of pure cold water between 700 and 800 feet in width and 10 
feet deep at low tide ; rise, 3 to 4 feet. 

The work of trap-building was in progress, a group of ton piles having lieen driven about 300 
feet from shore, and lying on the bank were a portion of the nets required to mount the finished 
structure. Operations were not sufficiently advanced to enable me to judge their intention, aud J can 
only give the plan as detailed to me by the builders. Mr. Clark stated that the plans contemplated 
two lO-foot square traps, with wings extending to the shore on either side, an open channel of 100 
feet being left in midstream for the passage of the salmon ; that he had joined the enterprise with the 
stipulation that this passage should be left unobstructed at all times. 

In reply to a cjuestion, he said that he had lived in the country many years as a fur-dealer, and 
the thickly populated region on Wood River contained many of liis best customers; hence he would 
have no hand in anything that would injure them. Au obstruction in the river preventing the run of 
salmon would result in actual starvation to the majority of the natives. 

Mr. P. H. Johnson, the prime mover in the aflair, described the plans precisely as Mr. Clark had 
done. He considered the traps as au ex])eriment involving too much money to be expen<led by either 
of the canneries singly ; hence, he had endeavored to interest all four, aud finally succeeded, Mr. Clark 
haxing joined them with the provision that a free passage of at least 100 feet should be left in the 
middle of the river. He said this stipulation was agreed to willingly, as they never had an idea of 
barricading the stream. The inclosed sketch shows the plan as given to me by the gentlemen men- 
tioned ; and the blue prints [not reproduced] give an accurate idea of the present state of the structure. 
It will be observed that, while a 100-foot channel will serve for the ascent of salmon, complete barri- 
cade of the stream can be accomplished with a net of that length, 12 to 15 feet in dejith. Whether this 
simple appliance will be used depends, in the absence of a Government inspector, upon the cauners 
themselves. 

Very respectfully, 

Z. L. Tanner, 
Lieutenant Commander, U. S. Navy, Cummuiiding, 




Note.— The river is at this ])oint about 750 feet wide; depth at 
mean low water, 10 feet; rise, 3 to 4 feet. 



SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 9 

IlNALASKA, Alaska Tei:uitory, ./laie IS, 1S90. 
Hon. Marshall McDonald, 

U.S. Comminnioiirr of Fish an d Fhhcrics : 
Dear Sir: In lookiug over my Ictfrr rifjiinling the loustrnctiou of traps in Wood Kivcr it occur.s 
to me that I may not have I'xjilaiiieil my action very detinitely. It i.s generally nnderstuoil here that 
the act of Marcli 2, 1889, does not jirohibit the ordinary n.se of the trap, and that when a practicable 
channel is left for the passage of salmon they may lawfully be used. As 1 did not feel fully compe- 
tent (o argue the point I advised them to keeji within the law, as the (iovernmi'nt intended to enforce 
it strictly and would ex.ac't the full ]ieualties for its infraction. 

If it is the intention of the act to jirohibit the use of trai)S, I would resjiectfully suggest that it 
be so stateil in a Treasury circular. It would simplify nuitters very much if tlie Treasury Dtipartmi'ul 
would state detinitely what the caimers nL'iy or may not do under the act of March 2, 1889. 
Very resjiectfully, 

Z. L. Tanner, 
Lieut. ConiiiHimlvr, U. S. Jfavi/, Commanding. 

This correspondence was referred to the ichthyologist of tlie Commission, wlio 
made tlie following report: 

U. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, 

WnaUngton, I). C, July 24, 1S90. 
Col. Marshall McDonald, 

r. <S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries : 
Sir : After having considered the letters of Lieut. Commander Z. L, Tanner, l' . S. Navy, dated June 
15 and 18, 1890, referring to the construction of a trap in Wood Eiver, Alaska, I respectfully ofl'er 
my opinion that such a contrivance for the capture of salmon is of the natureof an obstruction which 
would imi)ede aud, in all probability, prevent the ascent of salmon to their spawning-grounds. It is, 
therefore, clearly a violatiou of the act apjiroved Marcli 2, 1889, a portion of which is quoted here- 
with: 

[Public No. 158. — An ju-t to provide for the protoctiou of tlie salmon fisheries of Alaalta.] 

" Be it enacted bi/ the Senate and House of l/epresentatires of the United States of Ame7-ica in Congress 
assemhlcd. That the erection of dams, barricades, or other obstructions in any of the rivers of Alaska, 
with the purpose or result of preventing or imjieding the ascent of salmon or other anadromous spe- 
cies to their spawning-grounds, is hereby declared to be unlawful, and the Secretary of the Treasury 
is hercliy authorized and directed to establish such regulations and surveillance as may be necessary 
to insure that this prohibition is strictly enforced and to otherwise protect the salmon fisheries of 
Alaska; and every person who shall be found guilty of a violation of the provisiiuis of this section 
shall be fined not less than $250 for each day of the continuance of such obstruction." 

It has been demonstrated that traps in salmon rivers will speedily exterminate the salmon. New- 
foundland furnishes a satisfactory illustration of this fact. So well is this matter understood that 
British Columbia forbids altogether the capture of salmon in narrow reaches of streams, and the 
rivers are guarded to see th;it the close time ;ind other regulations are observed ; the length of nets and 
their size of mesh are fixed by law; even the oft'al from canneries is not allowed to lie in the way of 
ascending fish. 

The Alaskan salmon firms are in the territory to get fish. They prefer to get tliem without injury 
to the future of the business if possible, but get them they must or be overcome by financial disaster. 
In their efforts to win success they have often stretched nets across the mouths of small streams and 
prevented the salmon from going up until a sufficient number had collected to make a good seine haul 
possibles They have erected traps in rivers in such a way as to stop every salmon from ascending and, 
in some cases, actually built impassable barricades to prevent the ascent of fish entirely until the 
demands of the canneries were satisfied. Even when fl.shiug regulations were adopti'd by mutu.il 
agreement among the firms interested, individual infractions of the rule were only too frequcnit. 

The trap pien on Wood River arc building upon the well-known habit of the quinnat (or king 
salmon) of following along the shores in shallow water to escape from enemies. All the conditions, 
both natural aud invented, will favor the entrance of salmon into the great inclosuri' at the end of 
the leader of netting. In all jprobability few salmon will swim in midchannel and reach the upper 






10 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

waters and lake sources of the river, and it will always lie possible to cut oft' this remnant in the 
manner suggested l>y Lieut. Commander Tanner and actually practiced by fishermen on occasions, 
that of stretching a seine across the open water. If the Govcrnmeut should interpret its act so as to 
allow the use of traps, in spite of the unfortuuate outcome of such appliances in neighboring coun- 
tries, it should then prescribe regulations for the conduct of the fishery and appoint agents to see 
that the laws are enforced. If these matters are left solely to the discretion of the individuals having 
a financial interest in the fishery thcri^ will soon be no salmon to protect. 
Very respectfully, 

T. H. Beax, 
I('hthi/olo(/iKtf U. S. Fish Contviission. 

The papers relating to tlie ohstruction of Wood Eiver were transmitted to the 
Secretary of the Treasury l)y the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries witli tlie follow- 
ing- letter: 

Wasiungton, D. C, Juli/ 31, 1890. 
The Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, I). C: 

Sir: Referring to your communication of April 18 last, forwarding to Lieut. Commander Z. L. 
Tanner, U. S. Navy, commanding the Fish Commission steamer Albatross on the Pacific coast, a letter 
(dothing him with full power to i-nforce the provisions of tlie Alaskan salmon law, with special refer- 
ence to obstructions which it was reported were to be constructed in tlie Nushagak and Wood rivers, 
I have the honor to transmit herewith for your consideration several documents bearing upon that 
subject, namely: 

Copies of two letters from Lieut. Commander Z. L. Tanner, with their inclosures, dated Unalaska, 
Alask;i, June 15 and 18, and a copy of ;i letter from Dr. T. H. Bean, ichthyologist of the U. S. Fish 
Couunission, dated July 24. 

Lieut. Commander Tanner reports having visited the Nushagak aud Wood rivers on June 3. He 
found no obstructions in the former river, but in the Wood Eiver two traps were in process of con- 
struction, witli wings leading to the shore and leaving a passageway in the middle of the river 100 
feet wiile. Not feeling competent to judge if these traps formed an obstruction to the ascent of 
salmon within the meaning of the law, Lieut. Commander Tanner did not feel justified in carrying 
out the jirovisions of the law without further iustnictions from Washington. 

Dr. T. H. Bean, whose letter is inclosed, may lie considered as one of the foremost authorities in 
this country respecting the habits of the Ala.skan salmon. He paid special attention to that subject 
during two official visits to Alaska, the last visit having been made a year ago, in obedience to instruc- 
tions from Congress contained in the act of which the law now referred to forms a part. In his opinion 
the building. of the traps in Wood Eiver according to the plan submitted by Lieut. Commander Tanner 
should be regarded as an infringement of the law, and in that opinion I fully concur. 

Should you desire to have further instructions respecting this matter sent to Lieut. Commander 
Tanner, I shall be pleased to transmit the same without delay, although, on account of the imperfect 
mail arrangements with Unalaska, I fear they may not reach him before the close of the season. 
Very respectfully, 

M. McDoNAlD, 

Commiasioner. 

To the foregoing communication the Acting Secretary of the Treasury made the 
following rejily : 

TuEA.siTUY Department, Office of the Secretary, 

Washinyton, 1). C, August 13, 1S90. 
Ilou. Marshall McDonald, 

V. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, Washinyton, D. C. : 
Sir: I respectfully acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated .Inly 31, 1890, with the following 
inclosures : 

Copies of two letters from Lieut. Commander Z. L. Tanner, U. S. Navy ; one sketch .and two blue 

prints of Wood River, Alaska, and one letter from Dr. T. H. Bean, ichthyologist, U. S. Fish Commission. 

The correspondence aliove mentioned has lieen carefully reviewed, and you are informed that it is 

the decision of this Department that the erection of traps as described by Capt. Tanner, or any other 



SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 11 

permanrnt fences, dams, or Uanieaflcs in any of the rivers of Alaska, whether they extend wholly or 
only in part across said stream, is an impediment to the a,scent of salmon or other auadromous species 
to their spawniufj-fjrounds, and is clearly a violation of the act of March 2, 1889. 

The Dcjiartment will be pleased if yon will inform Lient. Commander T.anner of its decision 
in this case and instruct him to warn the parties who creetod said traps, or any others of like nature 
that may como to his notice, to immediately remove the same, and thereafter to report the jicrsons, 
with statement of facts, to the United States attorney of Alaska for prosecution under act March 2, 
iBSi), and also to forward .a duplicate of his report to this Department for its information. 
Respectfully ycnirs, 

O. F. Spaulding, 

Acting Secretary. 

Tlie following coniiiiuiiication was therefoi'e transmitted to Lieut. Coiumaiuler 
Tanner, advising liiiii of the ruling of tlie Treasury Department: 

Washington, D. C, August l'>, 1S90. 
Lieut. Commander Z. L. Tannkr, 

Commanding Fish Commission Steamer Alhatross, 

Unalaska, Alaska: 
Dear Sir: Yonr letters of .lune 15 (179) and IS (182), relative to your visit to the Nushagak and 
Wood rivers in respect to reported obstructions to the ascent of salmon, c.anie duly to h.aud and were 
referred to the Secretary of the Treasury for his information. In connection with them, I also trans- 
mitted to the Secretary of the Treasury a report by Dr. Bean based iqion yoiu- letters and describing 
the inevitable ett'ect of the construction of such traps as those now being constructed in the Wood 
River. A coj>y of Dr. Bean's report is herewith inclosed, and also a copy of a letter just received frcuu 
the Acting Secretary of the Treasury, in which a decision is rendered th.at thi^ Wood Kiver traps are a 
vicdation of the act of M.arch 2, 1889. 

Should this conniuinicatiou reach yon in time you will proceed to carry out the request of the 
Treasury Department as state<l in the letter of the Acting Seci'etary. 
Very respectfully, 

M. McDonald, 

Commissioner. 

LIMITATION OK THE SALMON CATCH BY AGREEMENT OF THE CANNERS. 

The restrictions and embarrassments imposed upon the operations of the canneries 
by the act of Congress prohibiting the erection of barriers to the ascent of salmon in 
the rivers, and the decision of the Secretary of the Treasury that the erection of traps 
or any other permanent fences, dams, or barricades in any of the rivers of Alaska, 
whether extending wholly or only in part across said streams, was an impediment to 
the ascent of salmon and other anadromous species to their spawning-grounds, and 
therefore luilawful, changed the methods and apparatus of the fisheries, but brought no 
relief or immunity from the threatened disaster, since the methods sul)Stituted exclude 
the salmon from their spawning-grounds as eft'ectually as if permanent obstructions 
were maintained in the rivers. 

The pack of ISDl fell but little sliort of the enormous pacic of 18S0, and the accumu- 
lated stock of 188'J, 1890, and 18'Jl, being in excess of tlie demands of the market, had 
its natui'al result in causing a break in prices, which proved disastrous to many of the 
canneries and led to a combination of iiitcrests for the puipose of reducing production. 
An agreement to limit the catch was entered into by the canueis of Alaska and 
British Columbia, which was put in operation the present season. 

This limitation of the salmon catch by agreement places a check u]ion excessive 
fishing in Alaska. The eflect will be con.servative, although the mea.sure was actuated 



12 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

by selfish motives and inny be abrogated at any time wlien prices recover under the 
stimulus of increased demand. 

Before the oi^ening of the salmon fishery in 1891 it was reported that GOO,flOO cases 
of canned salmon were in San Francisco \\-arehouses and that in London about 
400,000 cases which bad passed into second hands were still on the market. This 
represents about two-thirds of the total average annual outpnt of the Pacific coast. 
Finding that the nnirkct was overstocked and the iirice of canned salmon reduced in 
consequence, so that in many cases business became unprofitable, the canners decided 
to make a combination and curtail the tisliing in the season of 1892. The output of 
the canneries of Alaska and the Pacific coast canneries for 1891 has been tabulated 
as follows : 

Cases. 

Columbia River 390, 000 

Outside Orcgou Rivers 20, 000 

Puget Sound 20, 000 

Fraser River 225, 000 

British Coluiiil>i,i :i ml elsewhere; 23."), 000 

Alaska 800,000 

l.liSO, 000 

It was expected that the organization of the canners would include tho.se of Cali- 
fornia and British Columbia as well as Alaska. The first subject of agreement was 
the reduction of the output to one-half of the u.sual quantity. By this means the can- 
ners hope to improve the trade, especially in the English market. The canners are 
under heavy bonds to keep the agreement and at the end of the season to declare 
under oath the amount <if their packs. Of the thirty-seven canneries in Alaska only 
nine will be operated, and the men nsmilly employed in the other establishments will not 
be hired. The same reduction wall be made iu California and British Columbia. In 
Alaska the intention was to operate two canneries at Karluk, two on the Nushagak, 
one at Chiguik Bay, one at Cook Inlet, one either at Loring or Chilkat, one at Alitak 
Bay, and one at Copper River. The Alaskan output is to be limited to 400,000 cases. 

The following agreement was entered into March 25, 1892, between the salmon - 
canners of Fraser liiver, Skeena Elver, Ilivers Inlet, and elsewhere in British Colum- 
bia: 

Whereas, on account of the overjirodnctiou of canni-d salmon on this coast, the markets of all 
salmon points in the United States, Canada, and (ireat Uritain are overstocked with canned salmon, 
and it is <lesirablo in the mutual interests <if the parties to this agreement that .some limitation in the 
pack of the coming season should lie agreed to, in (Uiler that the supjily of and demand for that arti- 
cle m.ay be equalized ; the several parties hereto have agreed to limit the pack of canned salmon at the 
canneries owned, contr(dIed, or operated by them and each of them respectively upon the terms and 
in proportion hereinafter mentioned, as follows, viz: That the reduction in tlie pack of canned .salmcm 
during the season of isy2 shall lie upon the Fraser i50 jier cent upon the capacity of each cannery, and 
on the Skeena River and northern points 25 per cent upon the capacity of each cannery. 

The salmon-canners on Kadiak Ishind constitute the following eight companies: 
The Karlnk Pa(tking Company, the Kodiak I'acking Company, tlie Aleutian Island 
Fishing and Mining Company, the Hume Packing Company, the Arctic Packing 
Company, the Royal Packing Company, the Russian-AmericaTi Packing Company, 
the Alaska Improvement Company. 



SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 13 

The cai)ital is upward of!?l!.0(tO,(tO(». In 1890 they employed 550 men to can 200,000 
cases of salmon of 48 pounds each. In 1891 they proposed to reduee the force of men 
to 160, and still increase the take of salmon. They agreed to employ the same force 
of fishermen and to appoint a sn])erintendent to see that each day's catch was eipuxlly 
divided among the eight companies. Each cauuery was to be allowed the privilege 
of using private labels as before. The object of this consolidation was not to raise the 
price of the salmon, but to reduce the cost of taking it, in order to compete with the 
other thirty canneries and make money. In 1889 throe canneries were located on 
Chignik Bay, and their catch was enough to pay only one, so they employed only one 
force of fishermen, and the yield in 1890 showed tlie wisdom of the plan. Tlie title of 
the association is " The Board of Managers of the Karluk Canning Companies." The 
president of the board is Leon Sloss, jr., of the Alaska Commercial Company, and the 
secretary, Leon Maison, of the firm of Geo. W. Hume & Co. The following account 
of the organization and its operations in 1891 was furni.shed by Mr. Wm. II. Brommage, 
of Alameda, California. 

Early in 1891 representatives of the various canneries in Alaska held a meeting 
uiuler the title of "The Board of Managers of the Karluk Canning Companies" with 
the object of devising means to conduct fishing operations with less expense than 
usual, intending to put up 250,000 cases. They formed a combination as follows: The 
Arctic and Kodiak, the Hume and Aleutian Island, the Karluk and Royal, the Alaska 
Improvement and Russian American. 

The pack was to be divided according to the capacity of each cannery; f<>r exam- 
ple: Arctic and Kodiak, ^^%; Hume and Aleutian, ^^; Karluk and Royal, -f^; and 
Alaska Improvement and Russian American, /j^. Independent of this, th(^ Kodiak, 
Russian American, and Royal Packing Companies combined and were to put up fish 
caught at Little River and Afoguak, which was not to be included in the Karluk pack. 
They employed 01 white men. Tln^ larger combination employed 160 men for Karluk, 
wages .$00 for round trip and $12.50 per thousand fish. 

Mr. Brommage made inquiry at the headquarters of the Board of Managers of 
the Alaska Canning Companies on February 24, 1892, and found that 800 men were 
looking for employment and that only 100 would be engaged, and that only the most 
experienced of them would be selected. These would be distributed to all the ditt'erent 
stations in Alaska. He was informed that only 20 men would be sent to Karluk. 

APPARATUS AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 

Gill nets, traps, and seines arc euii)loyed in the capture of salmon, but the greatest 
bulk of the catch is made by haul seines, which sweep the estuaries of the small 
rivers, in which the larger jiart of the salmon catch is made, or are laid out from and 
landed on the beach proper inniiediately adjacent to the mouth of the river. One 
seine follows another in such rapid succession as to cover all approaches to fresh 
water, and the movement of the salmon into the rivers is as effectually .arrested as if 
j)ermanent barriers were maintained across the entire width of the stream. Gill nets 
may be used with the same results by stretching them from bank to bank. Traps, 
indeed, may be so skillfully located in accordance with the habits and movements of 
the salmon as to form effectual barriers to the upward movenieiit of salmon in the 
rivers, though invading only in part the channel. Any or all of the difierent methods 



14 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

here indicated may be employed with such persistence and under .sudi cdnditions as 
completely to arrest the movement of the salmon into and np tlie streams. 

The methods at present practiced by the canneries for obtaining a supply of salmon 
have an influence in bringing about the impoverishment of these important fisheries 
which can only be understood by a clear apprehension of their relations to the habits 
and migrations of the species which are the object of the fishery. A separate paper 
prepared by Dr. T. H. Bean, ichthyologist of the Commission, upon " The Life 
History of the Salmon," is therefore appended to and made apart of this report. The 
account of the distribution, migrations, habits, times, and essential conditions of 
natural reproduction there given will furnish the explanation and reason for such 
recommendations of further legislation as may be submitted. 

SPECIES OF SALMON OF ECONOMIC VALUE. 

The species of salmon found in Alaska in quantities sufBcient to constitute an 
economic resource are: The red salmon {Oiicorhyjiclnix iifi-l-a), the king salmon 
( Oncorhynchus choukha), the silver salmon ( Oncorhynchus linutch ), tlie liumjiback salmon 
{Oncorhynchiis gorbuscha), the dog salmon {Oncorhynchus keta), the steelhead {Salmo 
gairdncri), and the dolly varden {Salvelinns mnlma). 

The Red Sahiioii. — This species at present constitutes the principal motive and ob- 
ject of canning operations. The southern limit of its range is the Columbia Eiver, in 
which it is known as the blueback salmon. Its range extends northward to the Yukon 
Eiver, and it makes its appearance in southern Alaskan waters early in June, the run 
beginning later as we proceed farther to the north. Schools of salmon continue to 
arrive until October and, after tarrying a short time in the coast waters, begin to 
ascend to their spawning-grounds, which are in the cold, snow-fed lakes from which 
issue the headwaters of the streams which are frequented by this species for tlie pur- 
pose of reproduction. The run is confined chiefly to the smaller streams, such as the 
Karluk, in which they crowd in numbers absolutely incredible to one who is not an 
eye-witness, and actually force each oilier out of the water in theii" eager struggles to 
reach the sources of the rivers and deposit their si>awn. 

The King Salmon. — This is the principal canidng species of the Columbia and other 
rivers of Oregon and California, but at present it has relatively little importance in the 
Alaskan salmon fisheries. It is distinctively tlie salmon of the larger rivers, like the 
Yukon, on which the canning industry has not yet attained much development. It is, 
however, an abundant species, and with the growth of the canning industry on the 
larger rivers will attain great commercial importance. 

The Silver Salmon.— Thin species is in great request for canning in the Puget Sound 
region, but is not held in much esteem by the canners of Alaska, because it becomes 
soft very soon after its capture and can not be keplt like the red salmon. It spawns 
in tlic fall of the year, but does not make its appearance on the coast until sliortly 
before canning operations close for the season, and, consequently, the opi>ortunity for 
natural reproduction is more favorable than for the red salmon or king salmon. The 
species is abundant now, and under present conditions of the fisheries will iloubtless 
maintain itself. The flesh, though not higlily colored, is probably not inferior in table 
.qualities to that of the red salmon, and in the future, with the extension of canning 
operations, it will doubtless be tttilized more extensively than at present. 



SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 15 

The Humpbach Salmon. — This is the smallest, the most abundant, and most widely 
distributed species of the Alaskan salmon. It arrives on the coast of Kadiak Irom the 
1st to the 10th of July, and continues to run for about five weeks, the height of the 
spawning season being early in August. It does not ascend far from salt water, and 
usually enters streams which are too shallow to cover its back tins. This species is 
not much used at present for canning purposes, but is dried by the natives in great 
quantities for winter use, and moderately large numbers are salted for tlie San Fran- 
cisco and other markets. When fresh run its flesh is not inferior in edible(iua]iticstotliat 
of the red salmon, and has a beautiful red color, but rapidly deteriorates after it enters 
the estuaries of the rivers. This species, from its abundance and wide distribution, 
will attain great commercial importance when its good qualities are better known. 

The Doij Salmon. — This species occurs very abundantly in the small rivers and 
creeks of the islands and the uuiin laud. It makes its appearance at Kadiak about 
the middle of June and continues abundant for a month, after which the numbers 
rapidly diminish. It leaves the coast witli the first appearance of ice. The flesh ( if this 
species will hardly ever be in request for canning, but it is one of the most important 
species to the natives, who dry it for winter use. 

REPRODUCTION AS RELATED TO METHODS. 

The species of salmon above enumerated, though differing in their seasons of repro- 
duction and in their sjjawning habits and requiring different conditions and environ- 
ment, are all subject to the restraint of one common law: they must have access to 
their luxtural sjiawuing-grounds iu the rapids of the rivers or in the cold, snow-fed lakes 
from which they issue; and in this natural law is to be found the suggestion of such 
legislation as may be necessary " to maintain the salmon fisheries under permanent 
conditions of production." 

Whether these fisheries shall continue to furnish the opportunity for profitable 
enterprise and investment dej)ends upon the jwlicy to be inaugurated and maintained 
by the Government. Under judicious regulation and restraint they may be made a 
continuing source of wealth to the inhabitants of the Territory and an important food 
resource to the nation; with(jut such regulation and restraint, we shall have repeated 
in the Alaskan rivers the story of the Sacramento and the Columbia; and the destruc- 
tion in Alaska will be much more i;\\nd because of the small size of the rivers and 
the ease with which salmon can be pre\'ented from ascending them. For a few years 
there will be wanton waste of that marvelous abundance, which the fishermen — con- 
cerned only for immediate profit and utterly improvident of the future — declare to be 
inexhaustible. This season of prosperity will be followed by ii rapid decline in the 
value and production of these fisheries, and a ijoint will be eventually reached where 
the sabnon canning industry will be no longer profitable. 

PROTECTIVE REGULATION OF THE FISHERIES. 

Whatever may be the particular regulations and requirements it shall be found 
necessary to impose in the prosecution of the salmon fishery in order to maintain the 
supply, it is essential they should provide either that a considerable proportion of the 
run into the rivers shall be permitted to jiass up and accomplish natural reproduction 
in the lakes and tributary streams, which afford feeding- grounds for the young salmon 



16 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

diuiug tke i)erio(l of tlieir sojmuii in tVesli water, or that artificial propagation of the 
young and their distribution to the lieadwater.s of the streams shall be prosecuted on 
a scale adeipiate to conipeusate for the interference with and the curtailment of natural 
reproduction by the operation of the fisheries. 

If it be the policy of the Government to dei)end upon natural reproduction to 
maintain supply, this can be made effectual only by the enactment and enforcement of 
such regulation of the fisheries as will assure adequate reproduction under natural 
conditions. The different agencies which may be invoked, either sei)arately or in con- 
junction, to accomplish this end are: 

(rt) A weekly close season from Saturday evening to Monday morning. 

(/>) A close season during September and October of each year. 

(c) The establishment of national salmon parks or salmon reservations, as 

proposed by Dr. Livingston Stone. 
{(l) Absolute ])rohibition of tlie cajjiiire of salmon by the use of nets or other 

apparatus within 100 yards of the mouth of any river. 
(e) The prohibition of the use of more than one seine in the same seine berth. 
(/) The leasing of the privilege of taking salmon and the limitation of the 
catch, in accordance with the recommendation of the Commissioner of 
Fish and Fisheries, based upon continued and careful investigations of 
the conditions of the fisheries. 
The estahiishment of a weekly closed season will assure that some proportion of the 
run will succeed in reaching their siia^vTiing-grounds, will of course have a conserva- 
tive influence in keeping up supply, will render slower the depletion of the waters, 
and will probably prevent the extermination of the salmon. 

The establishment of a close season during September and October will permit the 
schools of salmon approaching the coast during this period to enter the rivers and 
spawn unmolested. The conservative influence of this measure will depend of course 
upon the number of salmon which approach the coast only after the opening of the 
close season. 

The establishment of national salmon parks or salmon reservations, as proposed by 
Dr. Livingston Stone in a paper read before the American Fisheries Society, would be 
an important factor in maintaining production and could be accomplished with rela- 
tively little cost. The importance of this agency as a means of maintaining the sup- 
ply is so interestingly and forcildy prcseuted by Dr. Stone in the article referred to 
that it is deemed appropriate to reproduce it here as publislied in Forest and Stream 
of June 16, 1892: 

A NA.TK)XAL SALNIOX I "ARl-C. 

[A paper reail bi-fure tlic ATiuTicjm Fisljeries Society.] 

Wlio wouM have thought thirty years aji;i> that the creatiim of a national park in this country 
would be the means of reseuing the burtalo from extinction? Who thought then that anything was 
neetlod to rescue the buffalo? Th(^ buffalo roamed in myriads over the ])lains and mountain sloi)eB of 
the central portions of the I'nited Stati's and were so innumerable that, with the exception of a few 
far-sighted persons, no one thought that this noble race of animals was even in danger. The supjily 
seemed inexhaustible and the species at lea^t safe from extinction. 

How soon we found out our mistake and how suddenly the chaugo i-mic. The note of alarui had 
hardly lieen sounded long eiuiugh to be distinctly couipreheude<l over the country before the buffalo 
were gone — all gone practically, except a few straggling survivors which, if they had not found refuge 



SALMUN FISllEKIES OF ALASKA. 17 

ill Yellowsliiiic Park, would luivo lioim f;<"»^i t"Oi '""S bof'o^(^ this. The Ycllowstono National Park 
saved thciii. It saved tlio wild race from extiiietion, and, if nothiiisj; else should over be aieoiiiplished 
by till' creatiiin of the park, this alone would, in the writer's estimation, justify its existence. 

Hut if any one had said tliirty years aj;o, "Let us form a national park in the buffalo region for :i 
protection and refuge for the lHitfalo,"the proiiositiou would have been laughed down from one end of 
the country to the other. It would have been thought a most ridiculous expedient, a scheme too foolish 
ami 2razy to bo even seriou.sly entertained. Nevertheless, the creation of the National Park has acconi 
plisheil this very object, and h.is been, I think it may bo safcdy said, the only moans of accomplishing 
this most important object, the preservation of the American biift'alo. 

Now what this paper is going to propose will appear, doubtless, just as ridiculous, .just as foolish 
and crazy, as the formation of a park for the preservation of the buffalo would have been thought 
thirty years ago. It is nothing less than the creation of a national park for tho preservation of our 
salmon. 

I hear already from all directions the question •' What do the salmon need a park for? Are 
Ihcrc not jilenty of places of safety for them already in all the rivers and streams of this country, 
not to mention the pathless ocean, where man can not follow them ? " 

It looks so at first sight, I admit; liut let us try to find these places of safety if they exist, and 
then see how it looks. Wo certainly can not Hud them on the Atlantic coast, where the si^anty yield 
of the only two American salmon rivers — the Kennebec and the Penobscot — is only a drop in the 
bucket compared with tlu^ total consumption of salmon. Passing over to the Pacific coast we find 
only the .Sacramento, the (!<ilumbia, and the lesser streams on the Washington and Orogou coast, ami 
in all these the salmon are about as safe as tho fur seals were last year in Bering 8ea. 

I will saj' from my personal knowledge that not only is every contrivance employed that human 
ingenuity can devise to destroy the salmon of our vvest-(!oast rivers, but more surely destructive, more 
fatal than all is the slow but inexorable march of those destroying agencies of human progress, before 
which tho salmon must surely disappear as did tho buffalo of tho plains and the Indian of California. 
The helpless salmon's life is gripped between these two forces, tho murderous greed of the fishermen 
and the white man's advancing civilization, and what hope is there for the salmon in the end? Pro- 
tective laws and artificial breeding are able to hold the first in check, but nothing can stop the last. 

To substantiate this statement, which may seem exaggerated, let me innuire what it was that 
destroyed the salmon of the Hudson, the Connecticut, the Meri'imac, and the various smaller rivers 
of New England, where they used to be exceedingly abundant? It was not overfishing that did it. 
If tho excessive fishing had been all there was to contend with a few simple laws would have been 
sufficient to preserve some remnants at least of the race. It was not the fishing, it was tho growth of 
tho country, as it is commonly called, the increase of the population, necessarily bringing with it the 
development of the various industries by which communities live and become prosperous. It was the 
mills, tho dams, tho steamboats, the manufactures injurious to tho water, and similar causes, which, 
first making the streams more and more uninhabitable for tho salmon, finally exterminated them 
altogether. In short, it was tho growth of the country and not the fishing which really set a bound to 
the habitations of the salmon on the Atlantic coast. 

Let me illustrate this same statement more in detail by presenting the testimony of the salmon rivers 
of the Pacific coast. Take for an example the Sacramento. When the first rush of gold-seekers came to 
California in 1819, every tributary of the .Sacramento was a fruitful spawning-ground for salmon, and 
into every tributary countless shoals of salmon hastened every summer to deposit their eggs. When 
tho writer went to California in 1872, only twenty-three years later, not one single tributary of the 
Sacramento of any awount was a spawning-grouud for the salmon except the McCloud and Pitt rivers 
in the extreme northern part of the State, where the hostility of the Indians had kept white men out. 
It was not fishing by any means that had caused the disa]ipoaranceofthe salmon, for the miners did very 
little fishing in those times; but it was the debris from the qimrt/. mines which drove the salmon out, 
ruining the .s]iawning-grouuds and rendering the river uniuhabitalde for the salmon. 

This was in 1872. In 1878 the writer took 14:,000,000 of salmon eggs from the summer run at the 
United States salmon station on the McCloud River. In 1883 the Southern Pacific Railroad Company 
(then the Central Pacific) extended their line northward up the Little Sacramento, crossing tho mouth 
of Pitt River, into which the McCloud empties, a mile or two above. 

.So disastrous to the salmon was the effect of the road building along the Little Sacramento and 
the mouth of the Pitt that that year it was with great difficulty and only by very hard work that we 
S. Mis. 102 2 



18 SALMON FISHP:RIES OP^ ALASKA. 

succeofled in fretting liarely 1,000,000 salmon eggs, and the next year Prof. Baird, in disgust at wliat 
he considered the iin|pardonable indifference of the (Uiliforniaus, discontinued taking salmon eggs at tliis 
station. Since that time sawmills of immense capacity have ln'cn erected at the head of the Little 
Sacramento and the McCloud, and have done very effective work in increasing the now alarming 
scarcity of the spawning salmon of the Sacramento. 

I think these instances are sulificient to show that what the friends of the salmon have to fear 
more than overfishing is the growth or development of tin- country always attendant upon au increas- 
ing jiopulation, liut the fatal consequences of which to the salmon it is impossible to avoid. Nothing 
can stop the growth and development of the country, which are fatal to the salmon. For instance, 
there was no power in the world that could have prevented the mining on the Feather, the Yuha, the 
American Fork, or the other spawning streams of the salmon ; nothing could have stojiiied the Imild- 
ing of the railroad up the Little Sacramento or the erection of the sawmills on tlie upper MeCloud. 
They came along naturally and inevitably in the march of events, and they could not be withstood; 
and nothing was left for the salmon but to sutler the consequences and disappear as by a decree of fate. 

Now actual fishing in the salmon streams can be regulated by law and rendered comparatively 
harmless, but the country will continue to grow more and more populous, and the fatal march of civ- 
ilization will [iroceed as irresistibly as ever. That can not be held back, and unsafe as the salmon 
are now in our Atlantic and facitic coast rivers, they will become more and more unsafe ever.v year; 
all of which goes to show that there is no safe place for the salmon within the limits of the United 
States proper. 

This leaves ns only Alaska. Now, how is it with the salmon streams of Alaska? Not even there 
are the salmon safe. Countless myriads of sahuon formerly lilled all the rivers and streams of the 
long Alaskan coast, and they were nearly 2,000 miles from the destroying hand id' civilized man, but 
they were not safe even on those distant shores. The ubiquitous canneryman found them, and he 
already has his grip on the best and most fruitful of the Alaskan rivers. The pressui-e of the world's 
demand on the world's supply of canned salmon renders it necessary for the salmon-canner to occupy 
more distant and less fruitful tields every year, and it is only a question of time when all the Alask:in 
salmon streams are given over to the canneries, and when that time comes no one will claim, I think, 
that the salmon are safe in Alaska. 

One or two illustrations are suHicient. The Karluk Kiver, on Kadiak Ishunl, is probably the most 
wonderful salmon river in the world. On August 2, 1889, tlu^ cannery nets caught on Karluk Beach, at the 
mouth of the river, l.")3,000 salmon by actual count. A short time after, the writer went up the Kar- 
luk River in a bidarkji — the skin boat of the natives — expecting to see myriads of salmon spawning 
and thousands on their journey to the spawning-grounds, but instead of the wonderful sight we 
anticipated, our whido party, 1 think, saw less than a dozen in the river till we reached the lower 
spawning-grounds, and then, to our astonishment, we saw only a few scattering fish spawning, such as 
one mifht expect to see in the most commonplace salmon river in the world ; 153,000 salmon caught in 
one day at the mouth of the river, and none to speak of going up the river to reproduce their species. 
Every one can draw his own inference. The fact is significant enough. 

On another river, a large one, the Nushagak, where vast numbers <d" salmon were taken at the 
mouth one summer for canning, we were told that the succeeding winter the natives living up the river 
were brought to the \ erge of starvation because the salmon whicii they had always depended on for 
their winter's food were so scarce. Of the thousamls and thousands of salmon that usually ascend the 
river to spawn, not enough spawners escaped the m^ts at the mouth to keep the natives ou the upper 
waters from starving. This fact speaks for itself also. 

So much for the safety of salmon in Alaska iu general, but it woulil yet seem that on the unin- 
habitable shores of the Arctic Ocean the saluuin might find a place of refuge; but not even there can 
they stay unmolested, for parties were ])laiiuing three years ago, the writer was told, to establish can- 
neries on the affluents of the frigid and forl)idding Arctic. So we see that our salmon are not safe 
even in Alaska, their last refuge, and if not there, they are not safe auy where within the limits of our 
broad land. 

But now the ([uestion comes up, "Will not protective laws and artificial breeduag make the salmon 
secure enough?" My answer is that good laws and artificial breeding will do a good deal toward it, 
but not enough. (Jood laws can prevent overfishing, ))ut no laws can arrest the encroachments on the 
salmon rivers of increasing populations and their couse(iuent fatal results to the salmon. No laws 
could possibly have been enacted which for instance would have stopped the manufacturing enterprises 



SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 19 

oil till' ('oniii'iticnl, or t\u; vast watiT tiaflii: of the grrat metropolis at the moiilli of the Hudson, 
which (loulitless drove the salmou out of these livers. Protective laws may regulate the salmoii tisli- 
iiig of the .Sacramento, liut no laws eau stop the mining, the logging, and the railroad liuilding that are 
destroying the sj)awiiing-grcmnds of the tributaries of the Sacraiueuto. It is not iu the jiower of law 
enactments to save the salmon from all their dangers. 

Artilicial breeding can do a great deal, and has done a great deal, but it can not lie relied upon for 
a certainty. In the lirst place, it is very uncertain where one can find a suitable jilace for hatching 
salmon. The writer traveled over 4,000 miles up and down the Columbia and its tributaries, from tliu 
Coutiiii'ntal Divide to the Pacilic coast, looking for a good place for salmon hatching, first in 1877 for 
the Oregon and Washington canuery men, and afterward in 1X83 for the U. 8. Fish Commission, and 
found only two places in that great stretch of country which were suitable; one on the Clackamas 
River, where the writer built a hatching station, and the other on the Little Snokauo, a few miles 
from .Spokane Falls, which is still unoccupied. 

There is in all the groat State of California luit one stream suitable for salmou hatching on a largo 
scale, aud on this stream, strange as it seems, there is but one spot that meets all the reiiiiirements of 
the case, and that is the place that the writer selected and built upon on the McCloud Ri\er in 1872, 
and named Baird, in honor of the distinguished Commissioner under whose direction the work was 
done. Allow me to add by way of contirmation that subsequently the State fish commissioners of 
California, after hunting all over the State for another place for hatching salmon, have given it up, 
and now get their siipjily of salmon eggs from the Government station at Baird. 

The above instances illustrate the dilhculty of finding suitable places for hatching salmon on a 
large scale; and not only is it not easy to find such places, but they can not be relied on to a cer- 
tainty when they ar<' found, for they are always in danger from logging, mining, railroad building, lum- 
ber manufacturing, and other causes, which yearly become more imminent and dangerous as the country 
gets settled u]) and the population increases, and which threaten at any time to destroy their efficiency. 

We must come to the conclusion, then, that even with the help and support of iirotcctivo laws and 
artificial breeding, our salmon, like the Iiulfalo of thirty years ago, are not safe. The destroying 
agencies of advancing civilization drove the bufi'alo to the last ditch, so to speak, and then the last 
survivors, or almost the last, were slain. They were obliged from sheer necessity to come to feed 
where from all directions the hand of man was raised against them. Whether they turned to the 
north or to the south, to the east or to the west, they went to their certain death, and in an incredibly 
short space of time they iiractically disappeared. 

The story of our salmon is analogous. They are obliged to come inland to breed. They are 
compelled fiom sheer necessity to come up the rivers into the very midst of their human enemies. 
They can not stay in the ocean like other fishes of the sea, where they are safe from the hand of man, 
but they must necessarily come, one might say, into his very grasp, and, like the butt'alo, whether 
they turn to the north, south, east, or west they go into the very jaws of death; for what hope is 
there for a salmon to escape after he has entered a river, if man chooses to employ his most eft'ectivc 
agencies frir his capture f There is none. The salmou is doomed. There is no altar of refuge for the 
salmon in this country any more than there was tor the liutt'alo. 

Ought not something to lie done thi^n? Ought this state of things to contiuuef The salmon of 
the United States are one of our most valuable possessions. As a matter of ordinary prudence, ought 
not the country to hav(^ some place, if it is possilile, where the salmon can come and go in safety f If 
a stock-raiser saw that his cattle were daily diminishing because they had no spot where they were safe 
from beasts of prey, what kind of man should we think he was if he did not very soon fix a place 
where they would be safe? We should, to draw it mildly, think he was very improvident and negli- 
gent. Is it any less improvident and negligent for this country not to provide a place for its rapidly 
diminishing salmon where they will be safef It seems to the writer that not a day ought to be lost 
but that if it is jiossible to provide a place where imr salmon can resort unharmed and remain safclv 
their allotted time, it should he given them without hesitation. If then^ is such an asylum of refui'e 
within our borders, by all means secure it for the salmon and let the salmon have it for an eternal 
heritage. 

Is there such a. )da.cc within tlie limits and jurisdiction of the United States? The writer can say 
from pcrson.'il knowledge that there is one place at least. Most fortunately for us Americans there is 
in our .Vlaskan ]io8sessioiis just such a jilace as is wanted — probalily more lliaii one — and so cxception- 
allv fortunate is America in this respect that it is not likely that this side of the frozen and uninhabit- 

\ 



20 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

:il)lo shores of tho Arctic il cuu lie duplicated many times in the possessions ot all the nations of tin- 
earth combined, which sijjiiilicant circumstance, allow me to add in passing, goes to show how near 
the world lias reached the extreme limit of its salmon supply. 

The locality wliicli the writer has in mind is an island in tlie North Pacitic about 750 miles n<'arly 
due west of Sitka. Its name is AfOgnak, and it is the uorthernmost of the two largest islands of the 
group called the Kadiak Islands. It lies just north of latitude 58- and between 152 aud 153" west 
longitude. It is a small island, probably not over 50 miles across at its widest part, but there are 
several streams flowing from various points of tlie island to the! surrounding ocean that at the ]u-o]mt 
scasou contain salmon innumerable. It is no ex;iggeration to say that salmon swarm uji these streams 
in countless myriads. When the writ<'r was on the island in 1889 the salmon were so thick in the 
streams that it was absolutely necessary in fording them to kick the salmon out of the way to avoid 
stumbling over them. I know that this story is an old salmon chestnut, but it illustrates as well as 
anything the wonderful abundance of salmon in the Afoguak streams; and it can bo easily believed 
when it is remembered that about a month earlier 153,000 salmon were caught in one day at the mouth 
of the Karluk, which is a river only 60 feet wide wliere it empties into the ocean. liut there is no need 
of consuming time in jiroviug the abundance of salmon at Afoguak Island. It is a matter of record. 
The salmon are there in as great numbers as could be wished. All the varieties also which inhaliit the 
Pacitic Ocean conu! to Afoguak. The list is as follows ; it is a royal catalogue : 

1. The red sabiion, the- "blueback" of the Columbia {OiicorIiyii<-liu>i iicrku). 

2. The king salmon, the "(juinuat" or "spring salmon " of the Columbia (O. (/(owtc/ta). 

3. The siher salmon, the "silvcrsidi's" of the Columbia (Vncorhijnchus liaiitch). 

4. The humpback salmon (Oiicorhynchni gurhuacha). 

5. The dog salmon (Oiicorhi/ncliiis hcta). 

6. The steelliead, the "si[uare-tailed trout" of the tributaries of the Columbia {tialmo i/airtliuri). 

7. The Dolly Vardeu {,Sali^eHnus maimu). 

It is easy to see what a iiaradise for salmon this island is, and what a magnificent place of safety 
it would be if it were set aside for a national park where the salmon could always hereafter be 
unmolested. But the abundance and variety of its salmon arc not the only recommendations that 
Afognak Island has for a national park. It has several others, whicli may be enumerated as follows: 

1. The island is inhabitable all the year round, with a comparatively even temperature. 
Although so far north, the winter's cold is not excessive, probably not efjualing that of parts of New- 
England. It is cooler tlian New Eugland in summer, it is true, but there is uuich less variation of 
temperature between summer and winter. 

2. The rivers of Afognak still exist iu all their original purit}' and fruitfuluess. No overlisliing 
has left: them barren. No mills have jiolluted their primeval purity. No railroads have frighti-iu-d 
the salmon away from them. No mining has disturbed their native spawning-grounds. As salmon 
rivers they are still in their original glory. To quote a not inapprojiriate line of Byron, "Such as 
Creation's dawn beheld" them, they are rolling now. Consequently, nothing need be done nor any 
expense incurred iu putting the rivers in order for asylums of refuge for the salmon. 

3. No complications now exist or can come up in future in regard to land titles in the island. The 
United States Government owns the land already, like the rest of Alaska, by direct purchase from 
Russia, and lias never parted with any of its exclusive rights of ownership. No State or Territory or 
company or individual owns an acre of it. Consequently the United States Governmeut can s<-t aside 
the island for any j)urpose whatever, without interfering with any jirior rights or titles, or incurring 
any risk of litigation.* Alaska is alrea<ly one great reservation. 

4. The island will probably never be wanted for anything I'lse. The summer season is so sliort 
that no crops can be raised there, and it is not likely that for many generations, if evi-r, the laud will 
be wanted by permaueut settlers, aud it is now inhaliiteil only liy a few Aleuts and half-breed famil- 
ies who would not lie interfered with. There would be no injustice done to individuals by uuiking a 
reservation of the island. 

5. Last but not least, artificial hatching can be instituted there at any time, if it is ever thought 
l>est, and on a vast scale if desired ; aud unlinuted numbers of the eggs of the various kinds of salmon 
uoted above can be obtained for distribution and sent to all other parts of the country where they 
may be needed. 

■* There are two canueries operating; in the southern part of the island, but there would probably not be p-eat dilhculty 
in iiiakinj: satisl'actorv :irranj;t'iut--uts with them. 



SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 21 

The ;i1)r)vii coiisiilerations seoiii to indiciito that AtTignak Island pos.sosscs all tlio qualifications 
required for a plai'c of safety for our Pacifie Oi'can sahnoii without preseutiug any olijcsctious to its 
heinj^ reserved h>' tile Federal Govornuient for salmon, or in <ither woi'tls conN'erted into n national 
salmon park. 

The writ(^r, however, would not urge the elaims of Afugnak or any other place to tliisdistinetion 
as against thos(^ of any locality that may be found to \)f l)etter tittrd for it. This island has been 
brought forward merely as showing that one pliice at least is known that would answer the purposes 
of a salmon park. There are doubtless others in our Alaskan po.ssessions. There are possibly better 
one.s. If a better place can be found, let us take it. If not, let us take Afognak Island; but at all 
events let souu? place be selected and set aside by the ajithority of the National Government. If not 
.A.foguak Island, let it be some other place. Provide some refuge for the salmon, and provide it quickly, 
before complications arise which may make it iuijiracticable, or at least very ditiieult. Now is the 
time. Delays are dangerous. Some unforeseen ditiiculties may come up which we do not dream of now, 
any more than we did a few years ago of logging on the Clackamas or railroad building on the njiper 
Saeramenlo. 

If we procrastinate and put off our rescuing mission too long, it may be too late to do any good. 
After the rivers are ruined and the salmon are gone tln^y can not be reclaimed. Exagger;ited as the 
statement s(M',jns, it is nevertheless true that all the ])ower of the United States can not restore the 
salmon to the rivers after tlie work of destruction has been comoleted. The familiar nursery rhyme 
about the egg applies here with peculiar fitness: 

"HiiHipfy Dumpty sat on a wall, 
Humpty Dnin])t\ liad a f;ri-a1 Call. 
All thi^ kiu^'s liurHe.s ami all the king's men 
Could not set Humpty as before." 

That is the whole thing, so to speak, in an eggshell. After the salmon rivers are ruined all the 
king's horses and all the king's men, that is to say, all the power of the Government "can not set 
them as before." 

Let us act then at once and try to do something for the salmon before it is too late. Dangerous 
complications may come suddenly upon us which we can not foresee. How little we foresaw the 
danger to the buffalo and tlie fur seals. How suddenly the flisastrons results came. Even if not 
impracticable, it may cost larger sums of money to <lo hereafter what may l>e done now for nothin"'. 
No expense need be incurred at present. .Ul that is required is to have Afognak Island or some other 
suitalde place set aside by national authority, as Gen. Grant set aside the McClond River Reservation 
during his administration, and it can be left to future events to decide whether it is expedient to 
expeinl any money on the reservation, a subject that can be safely left, we all know, in the hands of 
our efficient Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. There seems to be no impropriety in the United 
States having a national salmon park, but on the contrary it appears eminently ]>ro])er that a great 
natural salmon country like ours should have set apart some safe repository and fruitful brcedino-. 
grounds for this noble tish. 

Consider for a moment what the salmon has done for ns, and then think how mercilessly we have 
treated him. Our salmon has been to us a source of national revenue, enjoyment, and pride, and 
what return have we meted out to him? He has been hunted pitilessly with hooks and spears, with 
all kinds of nets and pounds, with wheels and ginis and dynamite, and there is not a cubic foot of 
water in the wlioli! country where he can rest in safety. The moment ho comes in from the ocean he 
meets the gill nets an<l the pounds at the mouth of the river, the sweep seines further up, the hook 
everywhere, and at last on his breeding-grounds, which at least ought to be sacred to him, he encoun- 
ters the pitchforks of the white man and the spears of the Indian. 

Let ns now, at the (deventh hour, take pity^on our long-persecuted salmon and do him the poor 
and tardy justice of giving him, in our broad land that he has done so much for, one place where he 
can come and go unmolested .and where he can rest in safety. 

Allow me to add in closing that it seems to me highly ajjpropriate that this society, vphich repre- 
sents with such intelligence and ability all the fishing interests of every kind of this country, should 
take the initiative in a matter in which those interests are so closely concerned. The writer trusts 
that it will, and ventures to predict that, if its eft'orts in that direction should lia]ipily Ix^ ri^warded 
by the creation of a. national salmon park, it would become an enduring iMouumenl lo Ihc usefulness 
of the society that would last as long as the natiiui lasts. — LiviNciSToN Stcjne. 



22 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

Ahsiihitc proMhition of the capture of mhnon by tho use of auy kind of nets or 
traps witliiu 1(10 yards of the months of the rivers would assure that some proportion 
of each run of salmon would succeed in entering the streams and reaching the spawning- 
grounds. 

The prohibition of the use of more than one seine in the sume berth wouhl jirevent 
that actual and effective obstruction of the approaches to the rivei'S wliich is now 
accomplished by the use of seines iu pairs sweeping the same area, and succeeding 
each other so continuously as to capture every fish coming within the seine berth. 

Tlio above requirements, reasonably and uniformly enfoi'ced, would probably be 
sufiicient to maintain regular conditions of ijroductioii and render permanent this 
great food resource. Should they be supplemented by recourse to artificial propaga- 
tion on an adequate scale, it will be possible not only to maintain the present supply, 
but probably greatly to increase the annual production. The enforcement of the regu- 
lations and requirements, above indicated, would, however, demand constant and min- 
ute supervision and the employment of a large personnel and a difficult administration. 

It is believed that better results and more satisfactory administration could be 
accomplished by limiting the catch in each stream to its actual productive capacity 
under existing conditions, and by leasing the privileges of taking the salmon to the 
highest bidders. The lessees of any river would see that there was no trespassing 
u))on privileges for which they paid. The limitation of the catch being kept safely 
within the natural productive capacity of the stream, greater care would be exercised 
by the canners, the quality of the products would be improved, and stability of prices 
assured by reason of the fact that the total production would 1)e approximately known 
in advance of the season. 

The number of cases packed would be a matter of easy and accurate ascertainment 
by the Government agent charged with that duty. Should the funds obtained frt)m 
the lessees be applied first to the administration of the regulations of the fishery, and 
the balance devoted to systematic fish-culture, it is probable that the revenues from 
these fisheries will not only suffice for their rational management, but will permit and 
provide for such extensive fish-cultural operations as will not only maintain present 
conditions and production, but also greatly increase the annual outjiut. 
Very respectfully, 

Marshall McDonald, 

Commissioner. 



S. Jlis. Doc. No. 192—52 1. Salmon Fisheries of Alaska. (To face page 22. .1 



Plate II. 




Fig. 1. The King Salmon ionciiriiiinciiiiscliuuicha). 




Fig. 2. The Red Salmon iOncorhyndais nerka). Sea-run. 




Fig. 3. The Red Salmon {Oncorhynchus nerka). Breeding male. 



S. Mis. Doc. No. 193— sa 1. Salmon Fisheries o( Alaska. (To face page 22.) 



Plate III. 




Fig. 1. The Humpback Salmon lOnairhninhus t/orbuscha]. Sea-nm. 




Fig. 2. The Humpback SALMOtHOiimrhuiiilnis iiorhii.ifliin. Blvedinj; male 




Fig. 3. The Dog Salmon i Omorh i/nckits kcta). 



S. Mis. Doc. No. 192— .W 1. Salmon Fisbfries of .\laslca. (To face page *!.) 



Plate IV. 




Fig. 1. The Silver Salmon (.Oacorhymhus kisuMi). 



^. 










. .-r-^;-i 



Fig. 2. The Red-throated Trout (Satmo miikisx). Adult. 




Fig. 3. The Red-throated Trout i.8aimn uri/kiss). Young. 



S. Mis. Doc. No. WJ~:,)> 1. Saliiiuii Fisheries uf .\laslia. (To face piigo Si.; 



Plate V. 




Fig. 1. The Steelhead (.sv(?»i,)yaiV((ii(')v). .\ciult. 







Fig. 2. The Rainbow Trout (Halmu irideus). y 



ouu^. 




Fig. 3. The Rainbow Trout (.sw/;,/„ iri,u-iis\. .A.init mal* 



S. Mis. Doc. No. V.li--}-3 1. Salmon Fisliorif.-f of Alaska. (To faro page 32.) 



Plate VI. 



% 







Fig. 1. The Lake Trout isnin-liinis inniuii/i-nxh 





-^^ 



Fig. 2. The Dolly Varden Trout isiii,fiiii,i« ii,iiI„hi>. 



^^^ 




Fig. 3. The Alaska Grayling criuiHHiiiiiHsiiinifar). 



S. Mis. Doc. No. 193—52 1. Salmon Fisheries of .\Iaslia. {'Vo face page 2J.) 



Plate VII. 



••n.vsKVi.ll.W-'f^- ■ '— •-^^-■ 



'./T^, 




Fig. 1. The Broad Whitefish tcanyoiiutirirliai-rl.ioni). 




Fig. 2. The Lauretta Whitefish (.Cureyonun hDu-Mai). 





Fig. 3. The Small Whitefish icorrijimnspnsiliiis). 



S. Mis. Dim. No. 192— .ia 1. SiiliiioiL Fislieiii'.s ol' Alaska. (,Tu faue page aa.) 



Plate VIII 




Fig. 1. NELSON'S Whitefish Womjonns nelsoui). 




'^4 



Fig. 2. The Round Whitefish {Conr/oiiiix ./iiailniaffraUs). 




Fig. 3. The Inconnu {Stentidus mackenzii). 



S. Mia. Doc. No. Kti~-a 1. Salmon FisUeries of Alaskil. (To fae-e page 28.) 



Plate IX. 




Fig. 1. The Capelin atanotusviiiosns). 




Fig. 2. The Smelt (Osnu-ms dentex). 




Fig. 3. The Surf Smelt (Hypomestis olidus). 



LIFE HISTORY OF THE SALMON. 



BY TARLETON H. BEAN, M. D., 
Ichtliyolos^ist, U. S. Fish Commission. 



The greatest wealth of Alaska is represented by its fishes, and among these by 
far the most important are the members of the salmon family and other elosely related 
forms, sueh as the whiteflshes, grayling, smelt, and capelin. The salmon alone repre- 
sent an annual value foreaniiiiig jmrposes of about $3,000,(»()(), derived almost entirely 
from three speeies. The undeveloped resources which may be obtained fi'om the sal- 
mon-like tishes have undoubtedly equal importance with the material now utilized. 

In the distribution of the Sahiwnidw Alaska received a generous share. Seven- 
teen of the known species, or about one-sixth of the entire number, oc<'ur in its waters. 
Lying entirely within the area in which the family is indigenous, ])lentifully supplied 
with long water courses, rapid snow-fed streams, and cool, deep lakes glistening in 
mountain valleys, over beds of clean gravel and bowlders intermingled with sheltering 
water plants, free from obstructions to the movements of the migratory species, its 
invitation to the salmon to come in and possess the waters and multiply therein was 
readily accepted. 

The largest salmon of the world are credited to this Territory, and there is no 
d(mbt that in Cook Inlet king salmon which weigh over 100 pimnds are occasionally 
taken, but this is far above the average weight of the species. The most abundant 
salmon in Alaska are the red salmon and the little humiiback, and it is these speeies 
which figure in the wonderful tales concerning rivers which contain more fish than 
water, tales which sound incredible to those who have never visited Alaska, but which 
in many cases are strictly true. 

The salmon have been traced as far north as Hotham Inlet, and one species is 
lound well to the eastward of Point Barrow. It is quite piobable that this species, 
the little humpback, extends its migration to the Mackenzie. 

The rivers and lakes of Alaska contain five species of whitefisb, the largest one 
(Coref/onus richardsoni, PI. vil, Fig. 1), sometimes reaching a weight of 30 pimnds- 
For many years this was believed to be identical with the common whitefish of our 
Great Lakes fisheries, but it difiers fr(»m this in many particulars. The species was 
known to the Russians as the " niukfiim." In the report of the Commissioner of Agri- 
culture for 1870, page 386, Dall refers to it as the "broad whitefish," which, he says, 
" is usually very fat and very good eating. It abounds in both wnter and summer, 
spawning in September in the small rivers falling into the Yukon." This is the species 
which Milner named Con'oonm keiinicotti, in honor of Robert Kennicott. Cajit. B. P. 
Ilerendeen, of the Signal Service expedition to Point Barrow, found this whitefish in 
Meade River in Octol)er, 18S2. This stream is a tributary of the Aictic Ocean to the 
eastward of Point Barrow. The southern limit of this species is not known, but it 

23 



24 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

probably extenrls at least as far south as the Bristol Bay region. The great size and 
line quality of its flesh make it one of the most inipoi'tant food fislies of the Territory. 

The roun<l wliitetish, sliad-waiter, or chivey (if ISfew England {Ci>re</<mus quatlri- 
laferalis, I'l. viii, Fig. 2), extends through the u]>])er (ireat Lakes region, the North- 
west Territory, and other parts of Britisli (U)lumbia, into Alaska. Speeimens have 
becTi obtained as far north as the lvu\yuk, or Putnam River, a tributary of Ilotham 
Inlet. This fish does not reach a large size, seldom exceeding 2 ]ioniids in weight, but 
it is very abundant and palatable, and consequently is an important fooil resource. 

A third species, called GoregonuH laurettw (PI. Vii, Fig. 2), aboimds from the Bristol 
Bay region to Point Barrow. It is a little larger than the round whitefish, Init seldom 
exceeds .S pounds in weight. It resembles the so-called lake herring {C. artedi) of 
the Great Lakes, and is an excellent food species. 

The fourth species is known as the hi.mpback whitefish, and was named in honor 
of Mr. E. W. Nelson {Gore.gonus nclsoni, PI. viii, Fig. 1). It bears considei'able re- 
semblance to one of the Siberian si)ecies, from which, however, it can be readily dis- 
tinguished. As food for man it has little value, but enormous quantities are consumed 
by th(> dogs. This species is found in all parts oi' the Territory from the peninsula, of 
Alaska northward. Breeding males have a very large lium]> developed on the nape, 
which is com])ressed to a thin edge. 

The fifth species of whitefish {Coregonus pusillus, PL vii, Fig. 3) is the smallest of 
all, and has the reputation of being more bony than any of the others. It is used chiefly 
by native traveling parties and as food for dogs. This lish seldom exceeds a foot in . 
length and its average weight is less than 1 pound, but it extends over a large part of 
Alaska, and is represented by a vast number of individuals. As far as our information 
goes, it is found in all parts of the Territory except the simtheastern portion. 

The largest and handsomest fish of this category is the so-called Mackenzie River 
salmon or inconnn (PI. Viii, Fig. 3), which is known to the Russian-speaking people 
as the nvlma. This species is intermediate between the whitefish and the salmon. 
It has a strongly i)rojecting lower jaw, on account of which the additional name of 
shovel-jawed whitefish has been applied to it. This beautiful species attains to a 
length of 5 feet, and individuals weighing 50 pounds are recorded. It occurs in the 
rivers during the greater part of the year, is in the finest condition in the early sum- 
mer, and is " full of spawn from September to January, when it disappears." The 
species is known to occur ti-om the Kuskocpiim to the Kuwuk. The largest individ- 
uals are recorded from the Yukon. It is found also in the Mackenzie. A closely 
related species is found iu the Volga and other rivers of Russia, and is attributed also 
to the Obi, Lena, and Colima, which flow into the Arctic Ocean. 

The grayling {Thi/mnllus xignifor, PI. vi, Fig. 3) is a very common fish in Alaska, 
especially in the northern portion of the Territory, and it is one of the most attractive 
of all the Alaskan fishes. At one time the grayling had the reputation of being the 
only fish in the fresh waters of Alaska that could be caught with hook and line. It is 
known also as the "blanket fish," and occurs southward at least to the Nushagak 
region, where McKay found it "very abundant in small rivers and lakes.'' He speaks 
of it as "a good food-fish, much sought after l)y the natives in the fall, along with the 
whitefish and the great smelt." The high and beautifully colored dorsal fin of this 
species, the rich purple luster of the sides, and the jet black spots not far behind the 
head, make it one of the most conspicuous and beautiful species of tlie ti-esh waters. 



LIFK HISTORY OF THE BALMON. 25 

The red-spotted brook troiitof California, also known :is thedolly varden ( tSulrrliii im 
malma, Tl. vi, Fig. 2), is one of the best known and most abundant flslies of Alaska. 
In the sea-run condition, when its sides are uniform silvery and do not show the red 
spots, it is called the salmon trout, and, preserved in brine, forms a stai)le arti<;i(^ of 
commerce. In Alaska the species increases in size northward. Individuals measurinj;; 
."iO in(;hes in length and weighing 8 or 10 pounds are frefpiently obtained. Nati\es of 
northern Alaska, make waterproof clothing from the skin of this trout. Tlie dolly 
varden abounds in all parts of the Territory, even in the .yeutian Islands and in the 
extreme northern limits. It is known to occur also in the Mackenzie and in the tribu- 
taries of the Saskatchewan — this basin ajjparently representing its eastern limit. The 
dolly varden takes thi^ artificial fly very freely. ( )ii one of the islands of the 81inmagin 
group several hundred individuals were so captiued in one hour by a party from the 
United States steamer AlbatroHs iu 18S9. Salmon eggs prove very effective also in 
taking this trout. The sj)ecies is very destructive to the eggs of the various kinds of 
Pacifi(; salmon. The young trout are destroyed iu enonmms numbers by gulls, terns, 
and other aquatic birds. 

The lake trout fSalveUnus namayeusli J or uamayciish, tuladi, togue, lunge, etc., of 
the Great Lakes, New England, Labrador, Idaho, and British America ( PI. vi, Fig. I), 
has been obtained iu the Putnam or Kuwuk River, where it reaches a fine state of 
development. The southern limit of this species in Alaska is not known. This is 
the largest trout of North America and the most widely distributed. Its great size 
and the good quality of its tiesh render it a very important species wherever it is 
known. This is one of the most variable of the North American trout in color, and 
much confusion has arisen from this circumstance. Individuals from the Kuwuk an^ 
similar in appearance to Labrador specimens, ditt'eriug only in being sliglitly darker. 

The rainbow trout of California (PI. V, Figs. 2 and 3) appears to exteiul north 
ward into southeastern Alaska, but is very little knowii iu the Territory, and, conse- 
(luently, is not of much importance there. One specimen of this trout was talvcn at 
Sitka by Capt. Beardslee in 1880, and is now preserved in the IJ. S. National Museum. 

Gairdner's trout (PI. v, Fig. 1), known also as the steelhead salmon, or " snom- 
gah" of the Kussians {Salmii (/nirilneri), reaches a very large size in .Vlaska, and ex- 
tends northward at least to the Bristol Bay region. At Sitka this species is called 
"■Ah-shut " by the Indians. We found gravid females at that place iu June. This trout 
generally finishes its spawning before the arrival of the salmon, and is charged with 
the destruction of salmon eggs in large (luantities. The species has not much inqior 
tance commercially, although it reaches so large a size, attaining to the ])roportions 
of the Atlantic salmon, which it resembles in shape and color; but small quantities 
are dried by the natives and at the various fishing stations. This is the trout which 
is shippc^d from the Columbia River early iu the spring to markets on the east coast, 
and sold in the fresh state under the trade name of " Kennebec sahnon.'' Its dis 
tiuction from the rainbow trout is diffi(!ult, and the two may prove to be ideuti(!al. It 
will undoubtedly become an important species before many years. At the present tiuu 
it is practically a waste product of the salmon fisheries of Alaska, and the same may be 
said of the dolly varden. 

■ (Jlark's trout (PI. IV, Figs. 2 and 3), recently styled tlie red-thi'oat {Salmn mi/klss), 
is very abundant in Alaska, (extending northward at least to the Bristol Bay icgion. 
In tlie streams it can be readily taken with vaiious b;iits, and greatly increases the 



26 SALMOM FISHERIES OF AI.ASKA. 

pleasures of angling. As a food-fish its quality is excellent, and it reaches a weight of 
20 pounds or more. Tlie species is black-spotted, the spots being larger and less 
numerous in Alaskan individuals tlian in most of the varieties which range southward 
iu the Eocky Mountain region. The crimson streak around the throat is a conspicuous 
and characteristic color mark iu all the many forms of this well-known trout. 

Before passing to a review of the Pacific salmons we must recall the fact tluit 
Alaska has a bountiful supply of small fishes closely related to the larger Salmonida'. 
A true smelt (PI. ix, Fig. 2) and two kinds of surf smelt (one of these on PI. ix, Fig. 3) 
are among the common fishes, the first beiug a food-fish of considerable value. The 
capeliu ( PI. ix. Fig. 1), abouuds on all parts of the coast, and is one of the most impor- 
tant food species of the cod and salmon. The eulachon, or candle-fish, is extremely 
abundant in southern Alaska, and is considered one of the finest pan-fishes known. 
A kind of fat is expressed from it which the Indians use as a substitute for butter, 
and which some pharmacists employ in the place of cod-liver oil. The species is so 
full of oil that when dried it will burn with a bright flame. 

These smaller representatives of the salmon family have at present little commer- 
cial value, but they will figure eventually and very prominently among tli(^ resources 
of Alaska. In addition to their value as food for man, they play a very important 
part in attracting the larger commercial fishes of the salmon family to certain localities. 

It may be well to state that the herring of Alaska is one of the finest species of 
the genus Glnpea, and is universally known as one of the fishes upon which the sal- 
mon subsist. The herring visits all parts of the coast of Alaska, running up into the 
bays in schools, sometimes covering an area of many square miles. It comes into the 
shallow waters of the bays to deposit its eggs, reaching Cook Inlet for this purpose 
early in July, so that its appearance in force coincides with the height of the salmon 
runs. The capeliu is also found early in the summer, and we know that salmon are 
very eager in their pursuit of this fish. The little sand launce, or lant, is also present 
in the bays in wriggling masses at the jieriod when salmon abound. 

The marine life of the Alaskan salmon is unknown from the time the young, in 
their newly-acquired silvery dress, leave the fresh-water nursery to become salt-water 
sailors, until they have ended their cruise, obtained their liberty, and come ashore, 
when, as in the case of so many other salt-water sailors, their serious trouble begins. 
Salmon remain in fresh water until the second or third spring of their existence, and 
not having a bountiful sui)ply of food, they grow very slowly and seldom exceed 8 
inches in length when they start seaward. In the ocean they feed on the capeliu, the 
herring, and a small needle-shaped fish called the lant. They are reputed also to con- 
sume large (luantities of pink-fieshed crustaceans, and to derive from them their 
attractive color. Opposed to this theory is the fact that many other sea fishes whose 
food consists almost entirely of such crustaceans are never pink-fieshed. 

There is no such fishery at .sea for any of the Pacific salmons as there is in the Baltic 
for the Atlantic salmon. After the great schools have broken up and the scattered 
fish come into the bays, some of the species can l)e caught on a herring-baited hook 
by trolling. The king and silver salmon are captured in this way. 

As a rule the fish remain at sea until they are about ready to deposit their eggs, 
and then approach the coast in great masses. A few young males accomijany the 
schools every year, and may or may not return to sea without entering the rivers. The 
adult fish come up from the sea at a certain time of the year, the king salmon arriving 



LIFE HISTORY OF THE SALMON. 27 

first ill the month of May in southern Alaska and about tlic (ith of June in Norton 
Sound. The dog .salmon and the red salmon appear in June, the humpbaeks in July, 
and the silver salmon in August. The length of their stay at the river mouths before 
ascending and the rate of ascent to the spawning-ground.s depend upon the urgeiujy 
of the breeding condition. In the long rivers the king salmon travels from 20 to 40 
miles a day; this species and the red salmon are reported to be the greatest travelers. 
The silver and dog salmcm, however, are recorded by Dr. Dall as traversing the Yukon 
at least 1,000 miles. As a rule, they frequent the smaller streams, and the little hump- 
back runs into mere rivulets. 

From the time the salmon enters fresh water it begins to deteriorate in flesh and 
undergoes remarkable changes in form and color. Arriving as a shapely fish, clad in 
shining silvery scales, and with its tiesh jiink or red, it plays around for a little while 
between saltwater and fresh, and then begins its long fast and its wearisome jcmrney. 
No food is taken, and there are slioals,rapids, and sometimes cataracts to surmount; 
but the salmon falters not, nor can it be prevented from accomplishing its mission by 
anything but death or an impassable barrier. Its body s(»on becomes thin and lacer- 
ated, and its tins are worn to shreds by contact with the sharp rocks. In the males 
a great hump is developed on the back behind the head, and the jaws are lengthened 
and distorted so that the nioutli can not be closed. The wounded fish are soon 
attacked by the sahnon fungus, and progress from bad to worse until they become 
unsightly. In the mean time the body colors will have varied from dark gray in the 
hnmiiback, with the lower parts milky white, to a brilliant vermilion in the red salmon, 
contrasting beautifully with the rich olive-green of its head. The excessive mortality 
of salmon during the ascent of the streams and on the breeding-grounds has led to 
the belief that none of the spawning fish leave the fresh- water alive. There is a sub- 
stantial basis for this view in the long rivers, and it is doubtless true that ajourney 
of 500 miles or more is followed by the death of all the salmon concerned in it. 

The nest is a very simple aflair, or it may be wanting. The humpback struggles 
and crowds up a few rods from the sea, and deposits its eggs between crevices in the 
bowlders covering the bottom, or sometimes they are strewn in thin layers over a 
large area in shallow water without covering of any kind. The king salmon seeks the 
headwaters of streams, and excavates a nest in clear, shallow, gravelly rapids. The 
dog salmon .spawns in small rivers and (Tceks. 

The silver salmon does not usually ascend streams to a great distance, and 1 have 
seen it return to salt water aUve, after spawning. The nest is made among gravel 
and stones, from which all dirt and slime have been removed. Both sexes take part in 
the building operation, and the male especially guards the nest. Turner states that 
the silver salmon use their snouts in collecting material for the nests, and he has seen 
them with the nose worn off completely. 

The red salmon spawns around the shores of deep, cool lakes, and in their tribu- 
taries, preferring waters whose highest temperature rarely exceeds 55 degrees. The 
nest is a shallow, circular pile of stones, some of which are about as large as a man's 
hand and some of them smaller. The eggs are placed in crevices between the stones. 

The enemies of the salmon are numerous. Small fish, called sculpins, or miller's 
thumbs, swarm in the nests, and eat large quantities of the eggs. Trout devour great 
numbers of eggs and young salmon. Gulls, terns, loons, and other birds gorge them- 
selves with the tendei- fry. When the young approach the sea they must run a cruel 



28 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

jiauutlct of llnundcis, sculpins, niul trout; inul in tlic oceiui a larger aud greedier 
horde confronts tliem. There the adults are attacked by sharks, seals, .and sea lions. 
Before they have fairly entered the rivers huge nets are hauling them to the shore 
almost every minute of the day, during six days in a week. When they return to 
their spawning-grounds, bears are waiting to snatch them from the water and devour 
them alive. The salmon, it appears, would have been better oft' had it never been 
born in fresh-water, where its dangers are cumulative aud deadly. 

The Kiiig Salmon (OiHtorhyiichus chouiclui). Pliitc II, Fig. 1. 

The largest and finest of the Alaskan salmon is the king, or chowichee, known also 
as the Takou, Columbia Eiver, chinook, and quiunat. This valuable fi.sh occurs in the 
large rivers as a rule, but it runs into some of the small streams also, notably the 
J'varluk, and some of the rivers emptying into the eastern part of Cook Inlet. The 
Yukon and the Nusliagak are the greatest king salmon rivers. The spt'iacs is found 
less abundantly in the Ugashik, Kuskoquini, aud Kvichuk. Its average weight is over 
20 pounds, and individuals of 100 pounds or more are recorded. At St. Paul, Kadiak, 
in 1880, Mt. B. G. M(-Intyre stated he had weighed one which registered 87i pounds 
without its viscera; he believed the entire tish would have weighed KM) jxiuuds. 

The Hesb. of the king salmon is iialer in coloi- than that of the red salmon, but 
su])erior to all others in flavor. The salted bellies are considered a gn^it delicacy. 
The principal uses of this tish are as fresh fi.sh and for canning purposes. lu Alaska 
it has not yet acquired the importance belonging to it on the Columbia River, chiefly 
bec^ause of the distance from San Francisco to the Alaskan king salmon rivers and 
the difticulties of fishing in those waters. 

This species is the first to arrive on the shores in the spring. It makes its appear- 
ance in southern Alaska in May, and Mr. E. W. Nelson found it in Norton Sound, the 
northern linut of its known nngration, early in Jane. The time of its conjing into 
Norton Sound corresponds with the breaking up anil disappearance of the ice. Mr. 
Nelson observed that " the largest of these salmon run during the few days just i)re- 
ceding and following the breaking up of the ice, and thence on until the end of the 
season they decrease gradually in size and quality." In the Yulcoii the season lasts 
only about a month. Capt. L. I*. Larseu states that the king salmon is the first to 
appear in the Nushagak; here the run is short, scarcely continuing into August. At 
the Karluk they arrive late in May. Very few were seined there duiing August. On 
the 4th of August, 1889, a fine male of about 35 pounds, with the spermarics little 
developed, was seined on the beach. In its stomach I fimiid forty-five capelin. 
Mr. Charles Tlirsch .states that tlie species is only an occasional visitor at Karluk. 

The king salmon continues to enter .some of the rivers for the purpose of spawn- 
ing until August. The height of the season, however, is reached by the middle of 
July in most localities. This fish travels up the rivers farther than any other species 
exct'pt the red salmon. In the Yukon it ascends far above Fort Yukon, more than 
1,500 miles from the mouth of the river. Dr. George M. Dawson records its occur- 
rence in the Lewes River as far as the lower end of Lake Marsh, where it was found 
in considerable numbers early in September. According to Indian authority it pushes 
on almost to the headwaters of the tributaries to the Lewes on tlie east side. 

The king salmon does not ascend rivers rapidly uidess the spawning period is 
close at band. It generally plays around for a few days, or even a couple of weeks, 
near the river limit of tide- water. After cnt'cring the fresh water to begin its Journey 



LIFE HISTORY OK THE SALMON. 29 

to the headwaters of the stream it moves nipidly until it finds suitable gravelly bottom 
in ('lear water. No food is taken iu fresh water. When a barrier to its ascent is met 
I am told that the fish charges at it rejx'atedly and persistently without regard to the 
consequences to itself. The nest-building liabits have been so often described that it 
is unnecessary to repeat them here. The spawning takes place, as before remarked, 
near the headwaters of streams in ('lear, shallow i-apids. As far as we (;aa learn, only 
those fish that ascend the streams short distances leturn to the ocean after spawning, ~ 
and Sei)tember is the month in which the sjx'nt fish go down to the sea. Mr. Turner 
mentions a female weighing .'58 pounds, which had spawned and returned to the sea 
and was caught at Uualaska, September 25, 1878; it was in flue condition for eating. 

There is no reason why the king salmon should not return down the Karluk, as 
the distance is very short and the lUtigue of the journey upstream is very slight. 
There is ample testimony of a conclusive nature to the effect that after a king salmon 
ascends 500 miles from the sea it never returns to it alive. 

Mr. Charles Uirsch says that the Ivarhik natives watch for the king salmon in 
May, and set up a great shout as soon as they discover it. Like the other species, it 
can be seen about li miles olf shore in great schools, but before coming nearer the 
S(!hools bieak np. There is no salt-water fishery for this salmon iu Alaska, (except 
along the beaches. 

No falMng off has been observed in the supply of the king salmon; in fad the 
number used is very small in comparison with that of the red salmon. 

The Dog Salmon (OiicorluiiichuH kela). Plate in, Fig. 3. 

This is one of the least imjiortant of the Alaskan salmon to Americans, but one 
of the most valuable to the natives. Its flesh is comparatively pale, and it deterio- 
rates so rapidly in fresh water as to prove very unattractive to white people. Mr. 
Daniel F. Bradford states that after remaining in fresh water twenty four hours the 
fish turn black, become covered with slime, and are unfit for food. The Jaws become 
enlarged and distorted, and the flesh unpalatable. In the fresh-run condition the 
flesh has a beautiful red color, resembling that of the red salmon, but not so brilliant. 
Early in July the red color of the skin is somewhat remarkable in being interrui)ted 
at intervals along the sides, causing a sort of resemblance to bands. The average 
weight is about 12 pounds, but some individuals reach 20 pounds. 

This species is found chiefly in the small rivers and creeks, and is usually very 
abundant in all parts of the Territory as far north as Hotham Inlet, and jjrobably 
Point Barrow. In the rivers of California and British Columbia it is said to appear 
selilom or never in the spring, but in Alaska it makes its appearance on the coast in 
great schools about the middle of June and continues abundant for nearly a month, 
after which it decreases rapidly in numbers, disappearing usually about the time of 
the forming of the ice. 

In the small streams falling into Alitak liay, with only a few exceptions, tiiis fish 
and the little humpback are the principal salmon, and the natives dry them for winter 
use in large <iuantities. Tlie Sturgeon River, according to Mr. Charles Hirsch, never 
(iontains any but dog salmon and humpbacks. In the Karluk Kiver the dog salmon is 
only an occasional visitor. At St. I'aul, Kadiak, Mr. Washburn says that the Jli/ko 
arrives about July 1, and there is only one annual run. On the 30th of August, at 
Karluk, a haul of a large seine yielded forty dog salmon and only one red salmon. 



30 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

Early in July the fisli-dryiiig frames of tbe natives on tlie shores of Cook Inlet are 
red with the tiesli of the drying dog salmon, or Hylw. The natives cut off the head, 
si)lit the fish in halves, and remove the backbone, allowing the two halves to remain 
fastened at the tail. The sides are gashed at short intervals in order to facilitate the 
drying. The fur-traders lay in a large stock of this dried salmon, which is known to 
the trade as ukali. 

The Silver Salmon (Oncorhynchiis kisiitch). Plate iv, Fig. 1. 

The silver salmon is considered an excellent fish in the Puget Sound region, but 
is not so highly esteemed in the northern jjart of Alaska. It is used to some extent for 
canning, but is far less important for this purpose than the red salmon. It reaches a 
weight of about 30 pounds; the average weight in Alaska is less than 1.5 pounds. In 
Alaska, as in the Puget Sound region, it is a fall-running tisli. It does not ascend the 
streams to any great distance, and I have seen spent fish of this species coming down 
alive in the fall to within easy reach of salt water. Whether the species actually leaves 
the fiesh water after spawning is uncertain. There is a conflict of observation on this 
subject. Mr. J. W. (Jlark, agent of the Alaska Commeicial Company at Nushagak, a 
very reliable and intelligent man, states that he has seen silver salmon come down the 
river alive in the spring. In some other Alaskan rivers, Capt. Lansburg, superintend- 
ent of the Thin Point cannery, has seen only black and lank-looking salmon of this 
species during the winter. 

At Afognak the species arrived August 5, 1889, but there was no extensive run 
till about the end of the month. A small silver salmon was seen at Karluk August 4. 
The species was not abundant there, however, until early in September, when about 
7,000 were (-aught at one haul of the seiue. It was about this time that one of Capt. L. 
P. Larsen's men at Karluk hooked a very large silver salmon, probal>ly weighing over 
30 i)Ounds. This species is only an occasional visitor at Karluk. When it runs there 
it generally begins about the last of August, according to Mr. Charles Hirsch. Mr. 
Washburn informed me that it arrives at St. Paul late in August oriii Sejjtember, and 
that there is only one annual run. A few fish iif this species are found in the small 
river in Olga Bay, near the cannery of the Arctic Packing Company. It has been 
stated by Mr. Daniel F. Bradford that silver salmon do not furnish 10 per cent of the 
pack at the fisheries. In tlie river at Thin Point, a small and very shallow but con- 
stant stream, both silver and red salmon are found, the latter predominating. The 
season closes here early in September. 

The silver salmon make their nests amoug the gravel and stones, from which they 
clean all dirt and slime. They use their snouts in collecting material for the nests, and 
Mr. L. M. Turner states that he has seen them with the snout worn off punt the muzzle. 
After the spawuing season, and during their stay in fresh water, they continue to be 
very much emaciated and in poor condition generally. 

No decrease has been observed in the supply of this salmon as far as we are 
informed. Its late arrival in most localities limits the season during which it can be 
caught, and this serves as a sort of protection for the species. 

The Humpback Salmou (Onvorhijm-hun ijorbuscha). Plate III, Figs. 1 and 2. 

This is the smallest, most abuiulant, and most widely distributed of the Alaskan 
sabuon. Its average weight is about 5 pounds, and individuals weighing 10 pounds are 
very uncommon. It may be recognized readily by its excessively small scales, and, in 



LIFE IIISTOKY OF THE SALMON. 31 

the breeding season, by its greatly distorted Jaws and enormous Iniiiip. It is found 
in all parts of the Territory. Its range is known to extend several liuiidred miles to 
the eastward of I'oint Barrow, and ])robal)ly includes the INIaekenzie. Speakiu};' of 
its extraordinary abundance, Mr. Turner has aptly remarkefl that " they appear at 
the surface of the water like tlie i)in (Iroi)s of an April shower." 

Mi. Charles Hirseh has informed me that from about the Otli of July, 1880, there 
was in the Karluk River, continuing for live weeks, a glut of humpback salmon 
which kept all other salmon out of the river. It was imixissihle to pull a, boat across 
the stream, owing to the great quantities of salmon. A haul was made with a. lo-fathom 
seine at ti a. m., and the men were dressing fish from that haul until (i p. in. About 
140 barrels were dressed. These were loaded in bulk into a small schooner, and then 
the men were occupied three hours in clearing the seine, in which the remaining salmon 
were about 4 feet deep. In the season of 1891 not more than 100 of these salmon were 
caught at Karluk up to the close of the lishing, October 5. 

The humpback arrives at St. I'aul, Kadiak, about the 10th of July, and there is 
only one run a year. From the statement of Mr. Hirseh, above referred to, it will be 
seen that it makes its appearance on the western side of the island at about the same 
time. Mr. Turner records the date of arrival at St. Michael as about the 25th of 
July and the period of running about live weeks. Mr. Nelson's earliest specimens 
were taken at St. Michael July 24. He says they are rather numerous until the 
end of July, with more or less common stragglers until late in the fall. The writer 
found humpbacks in good condition in Plover Bay, Siberia, about the middle of 
August. 

The species continues to enter the rivers usually for a period of about tive weeks, 
but is not regular in its api)earanee. The enormous run in the IvarluU, mentioned 
above, was exceptional, for the fish seldom enters that river. In the Yukon, during 
some years, according to Mr. Nelson, only a few are taken, and at other times they are 
present in such excessive numbers in the lower part of the river that the tish-traps 
must be emptied several times a day. 

This salmon is much addicted to Jumj)ing out of the water. In the vicinity of St. 
Paul, Kadiiik, one of the cominonest sights was this breaching of the humpback sal 
mon. Fisliei'men at this village say that the sea-run humpback often contains a small 
fish, which, from their description, must be the capeliii. 

In the Karluk Kiver, as already mentioned, the species continued to enter for tive 
weeks, and then dead tisli began to float dowai the stream, aiul this continued about a 
month. It does not go far from salt water and frc(|uently enters streams wiiich are 
too shallow to cover its tins. Its business in tlie fresh waters is simi)ly to de]>osit its 
eggs, after which, apparently, it dies on the spawning-grounds or is carried to sea in 
a dying <M)ndition. Spawning takes jilacc within a few rods of tht^ sea. It is a com- 
mon thing to see large areas of the bottom entirely covered with the eggs, either lying 
unprotected on the gravelly bottom or i)artly concealed in crevices between moderately 
large stones. In Afognak River the eggs were cast among stones about half as large 
as a man's tist. 

There are no signs of diminution of the supply of this fish. A small nunil)cr are 
salted annually, and the natives dry large (piantities for winter use. 

In the fresh-run condition this is one of the most palatable salmon in Alaska, and 
the time is not far distant when it will be a very imi)ortant species for canning. The 



32 SALMON FISHEKXKS OF ALASKA. 

flush is somewhat pak-r than tliat of the red salmon, yet it has a beautiful eulor. 
Properly iatroduccd into the niarkt^ts this would become a very valuable tisli, and its 
wonderful abundance would establish a jjreat industry. 

The height of the spawning season in the Kadiak streams is evidently about the 
middle of August. In Alexander Greek, near the Larsen Cove cannery of the Arctic 
Packing Company, Messrs. Kobert Lewis and Livingston 8tone found the hunii)backs 
spawning in vast numbers August 15. Mr. Lewis took some of the eggs and fertilized 
them with the milt of the males. Tlie eggs are larger than those of the red salmon, 
but smaller than king salmon eggs and not so bright red. On the 22d of August, 
1,SS!>, this tish was ol)served in the small streams at the head of the west arm of tJyak 
Bay trying to run up tlie rapids in order to spawn. The current in some places was so 
swift as to wash the tish away. Eggs were very plentiful between the crevices of the 
stones. On the 24th of August Alexander Creek was full of liumi)backs in all stages 
of emaciation and decay. In Alitak Bay, September 1), the tish were nearly all disad 
in the creeks, and Snug Harbor contained many dying humpb;i,ck salmon floating sea- 
ward tail first. Messrs. Booth and Stone fimnd Afognak River Avell fllJed with si)awn- 
ing humpbacks August 30. The two tributaries of Afognak liiver also contained them 
in great numbers. Mr. Booth found the tish most abundant in the neighborhood of 
holes excavated in the egg-sized gravel of the bottom, intermingled with stones of 3 
or 4 pounds in weight. 

After the great run in the Karluk, already referred to, the tish came down dead 
or in a dying condition for a whole month and the beaches were strewn with dead sal- 
mon. The distortion of the humpback diu-ing the breeding season is remarkable and 
the injuiy to its fins, and other exposed jtortions of the body, is excessive. The last 
stages of this species are repulsive to look upon, but before the extensive emaciation 
and sloughing away of the skin has taken place the colors of the breeding fish are 
rather pleasing, the lower parts becoming uiilky white, contrasting l)eautifully with 
the darker color of the sides and back. This white color sometimes extends upward 
toward the middle line with interruptions. 

The Red Salmon (Vncurhynckus ncrku). Platen, Figs. 2 and 3. 

This is the blueback of the lower Columbia River, the tSaKujni or Sukkegh of tlie 
Frazer River, and the Krusnnyu L'yha (or redlish) of the Russians. It does not seem 
to exist south of the Columbia River. Northward it is found as far as the Yukon, 
and it occurs also in Japan and Kamschatka. 

Although next to the smallest of the Paciific salmons this is now the most impor- 
tant species for canning and salting, and its flesh is so red ;is to win for it a reputation 
not warranted by its edible (jualities. It approaches the shores early in the spring 
and enters only snow-fed streams. The red salmon is not caught, like the king and 
silver salmon, by trolling in the bays. When it comes into the mouths of the streams, 
to ascend for the purijose of spawning, the ttshing begins. 

The size of the red salmon varies with the locality and season. Some runs con 
tain much larger fish than others. At Karluk the fish will aveiage nearly 4 pounds 
apiece without the iiead, fins, tail, and viscera. The whole fish will weigh 7 or 8 
pounds. In ISS!) it was estimated that 13 fish would make a case (48 pounds) of caimed 
salmon; in 1891 the number to the case was stated to have been 15. Individuals of 
15 pounds are occasionally seen, but they arc uncommon. 



LIFK HISTORY OF THE .SALMON. ;53 

Like tlio king saliiKni, the red siilinoii travels long distances up the rivers, pushing 
on to their sources; but it is chietly a lake spawiier, while the king salmon prefers the 
headwaters of the principal livers to their small tributaries. 

Red salmon arrive at St. Paul, Kadiak, according to Mr. Wjishburn, agent of the 
Alaska Coninicrcial (Company, in June, and there is only one annu;il run. This gentle- 
man also states that there is a little run of small red salmon in Little Afognak River 
as early as April 1, but the principal run comes in June or July. In a river just 1.0 
miles distant from the Little Afognak the first run does not arrive until about May 20. 
At Karluk, in 1.S8!), and around Kadiak generally, tlie species arrived late, and the 
catch up to the end of July was small everywhere. Turnei' records the 1st of May 
as the time wlien tlie natives of Attn Island prepare weirs {zapor of the Russians) 
to obstruct the passage of the red salmon to their spawuiuggrounds. The si)ecies 
does not appear to be common on the coast of Norton Sound, according to Mr. Nelson, 
but is more abundant in the Lower Yukon, the main run occurring about the middle 
of August and lasting sometimes only two or three days, but usually a week or ten days. 

At the end of August, 18iS9, the red salmon were still running into Karluk River, 
but had greatly diminished in numbers and had become so dark in color as to be unlit 
for canning. In 18!)0 the run continued at Karluk very late, and a large portion of 
the catch was obtained in October and early in November. At Afognak the run 
usually lasts only during the first three weeks of July, although they first appear about 
the middle of June, and a few small ones occasionally come about the 1st of April. The 
runs of fish ajypcar to vary a good deal from year to year. Some of the fishermen at 
St. I'aul believe that every fourth yeai' is a good salmon year. Mr. Hirsch says that 
in Cook Inlet, the Ninilchic, Kusilov, Kenai, and Sushitna rivers all have salmon runs, 
but the kind of fish varies from year to year. An unexpected run of humpbacks may 
prevent the red salmon altogether from entering its chosen river. 

Mr. Hirsch also says that in coming from the sea the red salmon approach from all 
dii-ections. They have been seen abiait 14 miles distant from the land, and when they 
approach nearer the schools break up. This species is very much given to Jumping 
entirely out of the water, and it is not unusual to see a dozen or more in the air at a 
time. At Karluk the fish play around in the kelp beds, especially when frightened 
by the seines, and here they are perfectly safe from the lishermeu. They do not 
Unger long in salt water after arriving on the coast. Freslirun fish sometimes go 
into the river with the tide and out again the same day with the ebb. 

Young fish occasionally accompany the adults, but all I examined proved to be 
males. On the l.itli of August, l.SSil, I obtained a male red salmon 11 inches long to 
the root of the tail. This example contained numerous intestinal worms. 

It is asserted by Mr. Hirsch and others, who have had much experience with 
the red salmon, that no spawning lisli of this species ever leave Karluk River alive. 
Natives of Karluk say that they can catch salmon any time during the winter through 
the ice on Karluk Jiiver and lake. They assert, also, that all the red salmon die in 
the spring, most of them in April. 

After entering the rivers the red salmon may return to the salt water, but if the 
spawning season be near at hand and the spawning-grounds remote, they travel up 
the stream very rapidly. I have seen them playing about in the rapiils, apparently 
S. Mis. 192 3 



34 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

restiug, during the ascent of the Kailuk. Nuhku-ous lieds ot eel grass and other 
aquatic plants furnish attractive hidingiilaces in wliicli the tish sometimes linger. 

The red salmon ascends to the lake or lakes whieli the river drains, and it is said 
that this species will not enter a river wliich does not arise from a lake. The dis 
tance traveled in the Kaalnk is less than 20 miles, and the principal lake is S miles 
long. Red salmon spawn in this lake and in the short and rapid rivers connecting 
each of its arms with smaller tributary lakes. They ascend long rivers, like the 
Columbia, more tlian ],()(»() miles, to reach tlie spawning lakes. 

This salmon begins spawning soon after its arrival oti the coast, and this varies 
with the locality. The season usually begins in .lime, and tish which have not yet 
spawned continue to arrive as late as the beginning of September. Spawning takes 
place in August, as the writer knows from personal ol)ser\ation. Dead lish and others 
which have spawned and are already dying are very abundant about the nnddle of 
this month. In Karluk Lake, near the sources of the river, ripe red salmon were 
speared by the natives Angust 17, 1S.S'J. On the 18th of the same month large nundiers 
of dead salmon of this species, aiul plenty of both sexes which were spent and nearly 
dead, were found in the rivers connecting Karluk Lake with its tributary lakes. In 
all of the little streams falling into Karluk Lake, in which red salmon were found, 
dead tish were moderat<:'ly common ; ami there was an abundance of young salmon 
about IJ inches long, which must have been hatched from eggs dei)osited during the 
preceding fall. Mr. Charles Hirsch stated that '-in March or A\)t\\ the Karluk River 
is solid full for a whole month of salmon fry going down to sea." 

1 have seen salmon nests at the head of Karluk Lake in shallow water near shore 
between the mouths of two streams. The nest is a hoUow circular [)ile of stones, and 
the eggs are placed in the crevices Ix'tween the stones. In the river connecting the 
east arm of Karluk Lake with its tributary, additional nests of salmon were observed. 
In some cases streams fall down into Karluk Lake over bluffs which are too steep for 
the salmon to ascend, and the fish were spawning at the mouths of such streams. 

Extensive changes take place in the color of the red salmon as the spawning season 
approaches. After a period in fresh water the skin becomes dark and the beautiful red 
color of thetlesh gives place toa i)aler tint. In this condition the fish has no connnercial 
value. According to Mr. Bradford, the arrival of dark-red salmon in quantities later 
in the season at Karluk indicates a decrease in the run. In the height of the 
spawning season the sides are suft'nsed with a brilliant vermilion, and the head is 
a rich olive-green, contrasting sharply with the color of the body. The nnile develops 
a hump nearly as large as that of the humpback, and its jaws are greatly enlarged. 

The eggs and young of the red salmon have many enemies, and the percentage of 
fish naturally developed from eggs must be exceedingly small. Every salmon nest 
has its greedy horde of little fresh-water sculpins (otherwise known as miller's thumbs), 
blobs, and bullheads ( Uranldcd spp.), always in readiness to consume the fresh eggs. 
The shoal waters arodnd the shores of Karluk Lake, and the shallow streams into 
which the red salmon linds its way for reinoduction, contain myriads of these destruc- 
tive little scul])ins. Another source of destruction to the eggs is found in the dolly 
varden trout {Salrclhius »««//»«), which is only too common on the spawning-grounds 
of the salmon and consumes large quantities of eggs. The waters referred to contain, 
also, a great many sticklebacks {Gasterontcun sp.), some of them of very large size, 
which probably destroy eggs. 



LIFE IIISTDKY OF THE SALMON. 35 

Chief amoiiji" tli« destroyers of the youiiy' tish are terns, gulls, ducks, aiul loons, 
whieh are very eomiuou in that region. I have shot terns and gnlls near the south 
end of Karluk Lake, and upon holding them up by the legs small salmon dropjiedont 
of their months. Towaids the end of August, 1889, the shallow parts of Karluk 
River were visited by hundreds of gulls, ehiefly young of Laim tjlaHfeHcens and L. 
Iiniclii/rliiiiicliiix, which were feeding upon yimng salmon. Bears consume large (|uan- 
tities of the breeding tish. They maybe seen standing at the edge of tlie stream, 
wliere the water is shallow, and oecasionally striking salmon with their claws and 
tliniwing them on the shore, where they are eaten alive. I have seen red salmon 
])art ly eaten, but still alive, lying on the shore after the retreat of the bears, which were 
disturbed while feeding. Other enemies of the salmon attack it iu the sea; among 
them are the salmon shark {LaniiKi coniKliicH), i>orpoises, and sea lions. All species of 
salmon are more or less covered with parasitic cojxjxxlu. The estuary of Afognak 
River is generally left bare at low tide, and great numbers of salmon are thus stranded, 
many of which die before the next tide rescues ihem. 

Red salmon are seen in salt water off the mouths of the rivers in large schools in 
the spring. No attempt has been jnade to take them until they come to the shore. 

The catch of red salmon has been increasing, owing to the greater number of per- 
sons engaged in the fishery and the superior efteetiveness of the implements used in 
its capture. The size of seines has been greatly enlarged, and the number of boats 
and seines largely augmented. There was, early in the season of 1889 and in previous 
seasons, injudicious obstruction of the ascent of spawning fish in the Karluk River. 
At one time an impassable weir, sinjilar to the zHpor of the Russians, was placed in 
this river. I have also seen the remains of |)Ound nets made of wire netting, which 
interfered so seriously with the ascent of the tish that they were dismautl(;d by un- 
known parties and were not reestablished. 

The Steelhead (Snlmo fiairdneri). Plate v, Fig. 1. 

This large black-spotted trout is known, also as hardhead and Gairdner's trout. 
The Russian name is ^oomga. In some of our eastern markets it is sold as " Kennebec 
salmon " before the Atlantic salmon has come in fi'om the sea. In the Rogue River, 
Oregon, the fishermen call it Rogue River trout. 

It sometimes reaches a weight of 30 pounds, and individuals of that size bear a 
close resemblance to »S'. xalar. It is found from Monterey, Gal., to liristol Bay, Alaska, 
and is very abundant in some parts of the Gulf of Alaska. This trout has been con- 
sidered a winter spawner, but females full of ripe eggs were seen by me near Sitka, 
June 10, 1880. Spent fish of this species are freciuently taken with the spring run of 
the king salmon, so that in all probability the usual spawning time is late in the winter 
or very early spring. 

This species, according to Mr. Charles Hirsch, arrives at Karluk in August in 
small numbers. 1 have seen a moderately large number of steelheads at Karluk on 
September 4, but their abundance was nothing in comparison with that of other species. 
It is seldom used at Karluk. A few small individuals are dried there by the natives. 
■ The spawning habits of the steelhead are scarcely known. Mr. B. F. Dowell has 
recorded its arrival in May in Applegate Creek, Oregon, for the lairpose of spawning. 
At the falls in the Willamette River, at Oregon City, Mr. Waldo F. Hubbard, of the 
U. S. Fish Commission, reported a few ripe females about the middle of May, 189li, 



36 SALMON FISHERIES OP ALASKA. 

but (luring: the remarkably high water the fish passed over the obstructions and no 
eggs were secured. At Sitka I was told that it spawns in lakes not tar from the sea, 
and immediately after si)awning goes into the salt water. 

In the opiuiim of Mr. Dowell the steelhead is "delicious in flavor." 

The Red-throated Trout (Salmo mykisn). Plate iv, Figs. 2 and 3. 

Clark's trout has recently been called the red-tliroated trout on account of the 
character istic crimson streak around the throat. It is a large and extremely variable 
species, and its distribution is nearly or quite as extensive as that of the lake trout. 
One of its varieties is found in streams of the Sierra Madre, Mexico, at an elevation 
between S,()(t(l and !l,(H)(l feet, in the southern part of Chihuahua, near the boundaries 
of Durango and Cinaloa. In Alaska it has been traced as far north as the Kuskoquim 
River, and doubtless extends still farther. 

As a foodtish the redthroiited trout is excellent and the species grows to a lar,ge 
size, individuals weighing 20 pouuds being ivcorded. Although not now an important 
commercial lish in the Territory, it furnishes food for the natives and is taken in large 
numbers by anglers. 

In the Rocky Mountain region it is represented by numerous varieties and is well 
known to fishermen and tourists. These are generally known as Rocky Mountain 
trout and may be readily distinguished by their black spots and the crimson dash 
on the throat. In the mountain lakes and streams of Colorado the trout come down 
to a point where the summer temperature reaches (iO^ to 65"^. In the basin of the 
Colorado they are associated with small dace-like minnows, upon which they feed. 
They prefer clear streams with gravel bottoms. The species is not migratory. 

In the Yellowstone National Park this trout occurs in both the Atlantic and Pa- 
cific watersheds, having traversed the waterway over Two-Ocean Pass. 

The typical red-throated trout of Alaska differs materially in color from its Rocky 
Mountain representatives, liaving compai-atively few large, roundish, l>lack spots on 
the body, chiefly above the lateral line and evenly distributed along- the surface; the 
head has a few black s])ots; the dorsal and caudal have a moderate number of black 
blotches which are usually oblong in shape. 

Parasitism in the Rocky Mountain trout has been discussed by Dr. Yarrow in 
p.apers referred to below, and more recently by Dr. Jordan and Prof. Linton in the 
ninth volume of the U. S. Fish Commis.sion Bulletin. 

Gordon Land, fish commissioner of Colorado, has obtained eggs from this species 
on June 21 and they were hatched in 25 days in water varying in temperature from 
52° Fahr. at night to 62° at midday; the eye-spots were plainly visible in 17 days 
from the time of taking the eggs. Mr. Land states that this trout is " easily taught 
to feed and will readily take food from the bottom as well as in transit." 

An excellent account of the life history of the red-throated trout was published 
by Dr. H. C. Yarrow in the Report of the U. S. Fish Commission, Part ii, 1874, in 
advance of its appearance in the Zoology of the Wheeler Survey Report in 1875. 
Under the name Salmo vir<iinaUx he treats particularly of the spawning, feeding, and 
movements of the species. From inquiry and personal observation he fixed the 
maximum length of the fish at 3 feet and the weight 15.1 i)ounds; but the average 



LIFE HISTORY OP THE SALMON. 37 

length is about 14 inches and the weight li pounds. Tlic following extracts have 
been rearranged from Dr. Yarrow's description : 

In shape then' is very little (lift'eri'iico Ix'twfi'ii the male iiml female, 1lion};h near the breeding 
season the female is the larger anil more lirilliimt in color. This Inerea.'fed brillianey of color aft'eets 
both .sexes, but is noticeable in a more marked degree in the female. Abont breeding time the eye.s 
aio brighter, scales more brilliant, and the snperticial hlood vessels more fully engorged than ordi- 
narily; the movements are more rapid, .1 celerity being displayed (juite at variance with its usual 
somewhat sluggish hal)its. As far as could bo asoertaiuod, the spawn has not been obsc^rved to run 
from this fi,sh when captured, either by the line or net, for the reason, most likely, that the gravid 
female is seldom taken just prior to or during the time of spawning. It first enters the mouths of 
mountain streams .and rivers to spawn about the middle of March, remaining until the middle of May, 
by which time the niajiu'ity have fultilled their reproductive functions. In coming on to the breeding- 
grounds all sizes are found together, young and old, little and big. During the spawning seascui no 
very observable changes take jilace in the trout, except those mentioned above, .ind also that the 
under part of the cheek of the feiriale becomes very bright. As a rule, it may be stated that in 
general appearance the male is much h'ss bright than the female at this season, and smaller. 

IJefore spawning, the nests are made in the sand or gravel by a rotary motion of the tall of the 
male. The eggs .are exuded by the female into this cavity, which is sedulously guarded by the male 
until the process is completed, when the latter deixisits the milt which is to impregnate the eggs. No 
further care is taken by either aft<'r the deposition of the ira[(regn.iting substance. Most of the 
sp.awning is dcme in the rivers, but th" process t.akes place in th<' lakes also to some extent. It is not 
known at wh.at age this f\.sli bog'is to breed nor what period of tiuu( the process continues. The .act 
of .spawning exerts an injurious effect on the flesh of the fish, rendering it poor and insipid. In addi- 
tion, many of the fish .seeking the up])er ]).art8 of the rivers to fullill their reproduetivi^ duties do not 
survive the severe brui.ses and oth<;r injuries they mi«t with in their journe.v past the rocks and 
through the rapid currents of the mountain streams. The water in the locality in which the trout 
s]pawns has never been noticed to be whitened by the milt, but it does pn^sent a translucent jiinkish 
aipjiearaiiee .after the event. 

The temperature of water most favorable for hatching appears to l)e the coldest olilainalde, the 
eggs in many cases being laid directly on the bottom of ice-cold mountain springs. The color of the ' 
spawn is whitish pink, each egg just previous to spawning being the size of No. 4 shot. In .Inly the eggs 
are not larger than No. 12 or dust shot. The eggs when spawned always sink to the l)ottom, where 
they remain unless eaten or carried away by tUe swift curri^nt. The eggs are hatched in Marc-h, Ajiril. 
and May, but the number of days required by the ])rocess is not known. The si).awn and young fish 
suffer greatly from the attacks of other fish, aquatic reptiles, and even from the large fish of their 
own species, these seeming to have no affection for their young. Mr. Peter Madsen states it as his 
opinion that the female in spawning ejects only a portion of her eggs, as he has found, on dissecting 
the trout after the spawning season, eggs of various sizes, some very small .and others full grown. 

After spawning the trout invarialdy swim in schools from one part of the lake to the other in 
search of food, a siditary fish at such time being seldom seen. In traveling the trout is nearly always 
accompanied by its friendly companions, the mullet, sucker, etc., which share with it the danger of 
attack by man and birds. It is rather a singular fact that the very young trout is seldom seen or 
taken either by hook or net, and I am unable to account for the same unless it is that it resorts to 
unknown localities until a larger growth is obtained. Its food, so far as known, cimsists principally 
of small insects. 

The trout is very voracious, devouring other lish smaller than itself, particularly a species locally 
known as "silversides," or " leather-sided minnows" (Clhiostuniiis Uniia, Cope), of from 2 to G inches in 
length ; on dissection, I found the stomach of the trout cranuned with these little fish. Grasshoppers, 
too are a source of diet to the trout, with flies and othiu- insects, while they do not disdain even 
snakes and frogs of tolerably largo size. The favorite localitiae for feeding in the sunmier are close to 
th(^ mouths of rivers, the water of which from the mountains is ice cobl, from 10 to 12 feet deep, and 
the current very swift. 

This fish winters in the deepest waters of the lakes, as most of the mountain stri^ams to which it 
resorts in spring and summer are shaUow and very c(dd. In summer it swims low in the wafer — it is 
thought, to avoid the extreme heat of the sun. The male and female, large and small, run indiscrimi- 



38 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

nately tDgothrr. tlio prcs(MU'(< of this iisli in any particular Incality ln'in;;' imlicated by the presence of 
flocks of birds hovering over tlie water. 

Large captures are easily made with a hook, and I have taken 30 to 40 pounds weight in a single 
hour's lishing. The hooks used are large steel ones, witli a snood or snell of piano wire, which is strong 
and flexible. The best bait is minnow .unl grasshopper, althougli this trout will bite at almost any- 
thing. In Panquitch Lake alish'seyois considered a very temjiting bait. — (Dr. H. C. Yarrow, Report 
Wheeler Survey, vol. V, Zoology, pp. 686-691). 

The Rainbowr Trout (Sahno irideas). Plate V, Fig.s. 2 and 3. 

The laiubdw trout is not known to extend far into Alaska, Imt specimens have been 
obtained at Sitka by Capt. L. A. Beardslee, U. S. N. Jt is sometimes found in salt 
water, but spends most of its lite in the streams. It is a valuable food-lish and grows 
to a large size, reaching 2 feet in length and about 8 pounds in weight. 

At the Baird station of the U. S. Fish Comnnssion spawning- takes plaee in the 
small creeks tributary to tlie McCloud River, from January t<i May. The eggs are 
aljout oni'-flftli of an incii in diameter and vary in color from light straw to deep 
salmon-red. A 2 pound trout yields about 800 eggs. In water at 54° F. the eye-spots 
show in 12 days and the period of incubation lasts 20 days. Tlie outline of the embryo 
can be seen through tiic shell four or live days before the eye-spots appear. 

The rainbow trout derives its name from the broad red or crimson band which 
extends along the side and on the head; this contrasting with the rich silvery gray of 
the body and the iridescence of the sides gives the fish a beautiful appearance. In the 
spawning season the color of the body becomes nuich darker, the flesh paler, and the 
red stripe turns to crimson. 

This species feeds chiefly <m salmon eggs during the season and upon dead 
saluKm. It is very fond, also, of tlie larvte of the caddis fly. Mr. Loren Green 
believed that these trout stir up the bottom of the river with their tails when search- 
ing for food. According to Mr. Stone they have the peculiarity of swimming partly 
on one side when in search of food, with one eye inclined downward, so that they see 
what is on tlie bottom. In very hot weather they feed chiefly at night. 

The fishing lasts from the middle of May to the last of November, June and July 
being the best months. 

A disease has sometimes appeared among the rainbows, which has caused great 
mortality. Specimens of the diseased fish were examined by Prof. S. A. Forbes, who 
attributed the deaths to encysted parasites located principally in the kidneys, but 
also aftecting the liver and spleen. 

The Lake Trout (Salri-Iiiiux titimaiioiiKh). Plate vi, Fig. 1. 

The lake trout is the largest trout of the world and one of the largest, if not the 
largest, of the salmon family. It is indigenous to North America, occupying the 
northern portion of the continent, extending S(mth to Silver Lake in Pennsylvania 
and Henry Lake in Idaho, and most highly (leyelo])ed and most abundant in tlie 
Crreat Lakes region, and extending northward to the Arctic Ocean on both sides of 
North America. In Alaska thisjtrout is very abundant in the rivers and lakes of the 
northern part of the TerritiU-y. It ha.s been ftmnd as far north as the Putnam or 
Kuwuk liiver, which falls into Ilothain Inlet, and extends soutiiward to the peninsula 
of Alaska. In color, the Knwuk specimens resemble examples of the same species 
from Ijabiador. ilitrcriiig only in being sliglitly darker. 



LIFK HISTORY OP THE SALMON. 39 

The color variations in tliis trout are remarkable; some examples are nearly black, 
others are brown with vermilion spots, still others aresray, with chain-like markings. 
In the Great Lakes the usual color is brownish gray, profusely dappled with whitish 
blotches. On account of its wid(> range, it naturally runs into many varieties of form 
and color, and adult individuals ditter gn^atly in size in different localities. It is said 
that individuals weighing 120 pounds have been taken, but the average weight in the 
Great Lakes will j)robably not exceed l.") ])oands, and an examjile weighing SO pounds 
is regarded as the largest one ever takeu in Lake Superior. The extreme weigiit 
above mentioned is giveu on the authority of Dr. Eichardson, whose observations were 
made in Arctic Xorth America. The Alaskan examples which I have seen were com- 
paratively small, but Mr. Townsend and others who obtained these specimens state 
that the species grows to a large size in that Territory. 

The lake trout is a voracious and predatory species. It associates with the white 
fish and lake herring, which constitute the principal part of its food. It devours other 
species of fish of suitable size, including the burbot or lake lawyer. Among the 
singular ai-ticles which have been found in the stomach of this trout are "an open 
jackknife (7 inches long, which had been h)st by a fisherman a year before at a 
locality 30 nules distant), tin cans, raw i)otatoes, chicken aud ham bones, salt pork, 
corn cobs, spoons, silver dollars, a watch aud chaiii, and iu one instance a piece of 
tar rope 2 feet loug. In the spring wild pigeons are often found in theii' stomachs. 
It is thought that these birds fre(iuently l)ecomc bewildered in their flight over the 
lakes, and become the prey of the trout." 

The lake trout appears to spawn only in the lak(^s, and not in rivers tributary 
to them. In lakes ilichigan and Superior spawning takes place late iu October, on 
rocky shoals aud reefs, in water 70 to 00 feet deep. The eggs are said to be deposited 
iu clefts in the rocks, into which they settle and remain until hatched. The young 
make their appearanee in .lamiary or early in the spring, in water of a temperature of 
47° Fahr. The hatching has been known to take place about the end of January. 
The late James W. Milner found some hatching-grounds at the head of Lake Huron, 
iu depths of from 7 to 90 feet on rock bottoms. In a female weighing 24 pounds he 
counted 14,94.3 eggs. 

In Lake ;\Iichigan Mr. Milner found that the lake trout, except in the spawning 
season, remains in the deepest part of the lake, and in their fall migrations they do 
not ascend the rivers nor are they ff)und iu outlets of the lakes. In northern Lake 
Michigan the fish are caught through the ice in winter in depths of more than 180 feet. 
The Indians of Sault Ste. Marie spear the lake trout through the ice, first decoying 
them within reach by means of a decoy of wood or lead roughly shaped like a fish. 

In Alaska the lake trout becomes very plump, and on account of its great size 
.nud the good quality of its flesh it is a very important S(mrcc of food for the natives. 
It has not at present any iniiiortance in the commercial fisheries, but must become a 
valnable market species in flu- future. 

The Dolly Varden Trout (Sdlnliiiiiit malma). Plate VI, Fig. 2. 

This handsdinc speries beais a very close n^semblance to the sea trout of Labra- 
dni\ It is known to comnicree uiidei' the name of salmon trout. The Russian name 
of the species is (jolvtz, and in Kamchatka it is the iiKtlmn. In western Montana it is 
known as salmon trout and bull trout, the latter name being current also in ('alifornia. 



40 8ALMON FISHKKIES OP ALASKA. 

Tlic iiaine dolly vardfii was in use for it at Soda Springs, Cal., at least as oarly as 1S72. 
The McOloud River Indians eall it tbe Wyc-dardeekit. In the McCloud its weight 
varies from 2 to 15 pounds. According to Mr. J. B. Camphell — 

It frequents the river from the .jniietion (with the Pitt) to the spring, tliere heing; none above 
the .spring (mil lew near the river luontli. If one takes liold of the dolly varden it slips away nearly 
like an eel. The species is very destructive to other trout, or any kind of fish. It spawns in Sep- 
tember .and November. The eggs are about one-half the size of those of the common (rainbow) trout. 
The fish are very difficult to obtain. They will live in a small place where the common trout would 
not. I have kept tliem in a pond about 6 feet square for a niontli. where the rainbows would kill 
themselves in a short time. They ap])ear to be more hardy. 

The average wcigiitof this tront in the sea lislierv at Kadiak is about '2,1 pounds. 
It rea(!lies a length of 30 inches, and individuals weighing 8 pounds are often taken. 
It increases in size to the northward. 

The dolly v;irden is a migratory species and passes much of its time in the sea 
near the river mouths; it enters the rivers late in the fall and <leseends in the .spring. 
Mr. Washburn says that it arrives at St. I'aul in April. It remains in the l)ay near 
St. Paul throughout the sunimev. Mr. Charles Ilirsch states that it reaches Karluk 
in the latter part of May and runs through the whole .season. Dolly vardens of a 
pound or more can be found in the streams at any time during the summer. Mr. E. W. 
Nelson found them at Unalaska early in June, and in the Yukon in the same month, 
but he says they are mo.st numerous in the fall just before and after the streams freeze 
over. They enter the rivers and go uj) to their headwaters for the purpose of spawn- 
ing. The spawning season is in winter and may begin very early in this part of the 
year. A female, opened on the beach at Karluk August 2, 1889, contained eggs which 
seemed to be nearly rijie. 

Individuals taken at sea sometimes have capelin in their stomachs. In Karluk 
Eiver, near its month, I have seen them feeding on eggs of the red salmon, which had 
been thrown into the water from the fish-cleaning houses. On the 5th of August I 
found a female dolly varden with very small ovaries; this example was long and 
slender. On August 10 a spent or sterile malma was found above the rapids in a little 
stream tributary to Karluk River. At the head of Karluk Lake, August 19, was 
discovered a very much emaciated trout of this species, which was struggling in the 
water and nearly dead. The inside of its mouth was full of large lerntean parasites. 

The dolly vaiden spends the entire summer in salt water near the mouths of the 
rivers after it has reached a certain age; younger individuals remain in the rivers and 
lakes. Many thousands of these trout are caugiit in the seines hauled for salmon, and 
fisheries exist for this species alone in various localities. It is put u]) in pickle and 
sold in San Francisco. The demand there, however, is limited. 

No .serious diminution of the supply of this trout has been observed. There is 
great destruction of the fish, however, at Karluk in the seining for red salmon, where 
thousands of dolly vardens are taken and left lying unused on the beach. Something 
should be done to prevent this waste of good tish. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE SALMONID/E OF ALASKA AND ADJACENT REGIONS. 



BY TARLETON H. BEAN, M. D., 

Iihthyologist, U. S. Fish Commission. 



Owing to lack of time it was found impossible to fnrnisli a complete bibliography 
of publications relating to tlie Stdmimulcv of Alaska and adjacent regiotis. A more 
detailed catalogue, however, is in course of j (reparation for publication in tlie Bulletin 
of tlie U. S. Fish Commission for 1892. In the compilation of the following list of papers 
fiee use has been made of the "Bililiograjdiy of the Fishes of the Pacific Coast of tlic 
United States to the end of tlie year 187!)," by Theodore Gill. The "Partial List of 
Charts, Maps, and Publications relating to Alaska and the Adjacent Regi(m from Paget 
Sound and Hakodadi to the Arctic Ocean, lictwccn the Kocky and the Stanovoi Moun- 
tains," liy VV. 11. Ball and Miircus Baker, to wliicli reference is made below, will furnish 
many additional titles. 

1811 — Zoonraphia Rosso-Asiatira, sist.ens Omnium Aniiiialium in i-xtonso imperio Rossico et ailjacen- 
tiliiis iiiarilius obsiuvatoium ReccnsioiKMii DDiiiieilia, Mores ot L)i'sci'i]itioiiPS, anatomcu 
at<iiio Icoues plurimorum. Auctoro Petio Pallas, K<i. Aiir. Aeailoiiiico-l'ttropiilitano. — \i)l- 
umt'ii tiTtium. — Petriipoli in OfBcina Caes. Acailemiai .Scientiarum Impress. M. DCC.CXI. 
Edit. MDCCCXXXI. (4^, vii, 428, cxxv. pp., 6 pi.) Sahno lafjiirephaliix (p. 372, pi. 77, f. 2.) 
Salmo prohiw (\>. 376, pi. 78, f. 2, pi. 79.1 Salmo socialh (p. 389. \>\. 81, f. 2). 

1836 — Fauna IJoreali-Amcricana; or the Zoology of the Nortliern Parts of British America: contain- 
ing descriptions of the objects of Natural History collected ou the late northern land 
cxiieditions under command of Captain Sir John Frauklin, R. N. Part third. The Fish. By 
John Richardson, M. D. , i'. R. s., F. L. .s.. Member of the Geographical Society of Loudon, and 
Wern((rian Natural History Society of Edinburgh; Honorary Member of the Natural History 
Society of Montreal, and Literary and Philoso])hi(^aI Society of Quebec; Foreign Member 
of the Geographical Society of Paris; and Corresponding Meml>er of the Academy of Natu- 
ral Sciences of Philadelphia; Surgeon and Naturalist to the Exiicditi<ms. Illustrated by 
numerous plates. Published under the authority of the Right Hcuiorablc the Secretary of 
State forCoIonialAtiairs. London : Richard Bentley, New Burlington street, MDCCCXXX VI 
[4^, pp. XV, 327 (+1) 24 pi. (numbered 74-97).] 
[Salvia scouleri, pp. 158. 2'2'.i; Salmo quinnat, 219; Sahno Gairdneri, Tl\; Salmo paucidens, 222: Salmo teuji- 
pitch, 224: Salmo Clarhii, 22.5. 307; Salmo tllaltolus) pacljicun, 226.] 

1846 — A Synopsis of the Fishes of North America. By Uavid Humphreys Storer, .M. !>., \. A. s. Cam- 
bridge: Metcalf and Company, Printers to the University. 1846. [4 -, 1 p. 1. (= title), 298 pp.] 
[Salino (piLiinat, Salmo (latrdnerii, Salmo paucldeim, Salmo xcouleri, Salmo tnuppitch, Salmo nitidus, Malhitiin 
vaclficus.] 
1854 — The Zoology of the Voyage of H. M.S. Herald, under the command of Ca|)ta in Henry Kellctt, R. N., 
c. IS., during the years 1845-'51. Published under the Authority of the Lords Commi.ssioners 
of the Admiralty. Edited by Professor Edward Forbes, K. u. s. Vertcbralsincluiling Fossil 
Mammals. By Sir John Richardson, Knt., C. is., M. D., F. B. s. Loudon: Lovell Reeve, 5 
Henrietta street, Covent Garden. 1*54. [4", xi, vi, (1), 171 (+1) pp., 32 pi.] 

Flab, pp. 156-171, and Jil. X.KVm. pi. XXXIU. Salmo confiuetiiv, Yukon Kiv<>r (167, pi. 32): Salmo dfrmtUintts, 
Yukon liiver (1G9, pi. 33, f. 3-5). 

41 



42 SALMON FISHKRIES OF ALASKA. 

1855 — Description of a new Trout. By W. P. Gibbon.s. March 19, ISS.'i. Proc. Cal. .\ca(l. Sci., v. I, 
pp. 3(), 37, !«.">; 2d eil., pp. 3.5, 36, 1873. 
[N. sp., Sttlmo ii-idea.] 
1857 — TUi^ Northwest Coast; or. Three Years' Ee.sich'nce iu Washiufjton Territory. By James (i. Swan. 
(Fiijnre of Terr. seal. ) Witli numerous illustrations. New York: Harper & Brothers, Pub- 
lishers, Franklin Square. 1857. 12°, 435 pp. (incl. 26 fig.s. anil pi. ) ; frontispiece, 1 map. 
(Popular notices of fishes— o-spociiilly sahnon and fi.sbing for fialmon -are given iu chapters 3, 7.9, and U.] 
1857 — Thirty-third Congress, seiond scission, Senate Ex. Doc. No. 78. Reports of Explorations and 
Surveys to ascertiiin the luost practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mis- 
sissippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Made under the direction of the Secri'tary of War, in 
1851-5, according to Acts of Congress of March 3, 1853, March 31, 18,54, and August 5, 1854. 
\'oliime VI. Washington. Beverly Tucker, Printer. 1857. 
1857 — Explorations and Surveys for a Railroad Route from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, 
War Department. Routes in (California and Oregon explored by Lieut. R. S. Williamson, 
Cor^s of Topographical Engiu<-ers, and Lieut. Henry L. Al)i)ot, Corps of Topographical Engi- 
neers, in 1855. Zoological Report. Wasliiugton, D. C. 1857. 
No. 1. Re]iort npou Fishes collected on the Survey. By Charles Girard, M. i>. ; pp. !»-34, with 
plates xxiia, xxiift, xxva, x.xvft, XLa, XLVi, LXii, L.xvi, Lxviii, L.xx, i.xxiv. 
1857 — Report on the fauna and medical topogra j>hy of Washington Territory. By Geo. Suckley, iw. D. 
May, 1857. Trans. Am. Med. Assoc, v. 10, pp. 181-217, 1857. 
[Fishes noticed at pp. 2()2-203.] 
1858 — Description of 8e\eral new species of Salmonidu' from the northwest coast of America. By Geo. 
Suckley, M. D. Read December 6, 1858. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, v. 7, pp. 1-10, 1862. 
[N. sp. 1^'aliiin (iibhail (1), Salnut tnuicatus {."J), Salm» gibber (ti), Salnio conjluentns (8), Sahiui canU (0).) 
1858— Ichthyological Notices. My Charh-s Girard, m. i>. Doc, 28, 1858. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila.. 
vol. 10, pp. 22,3-225, Dec. 1858. 
[^ 1-4, u. sp. " Fario Newberrii, or else Salnm Xewberrii " (225).] 

1859 — 33d Congress, 2d Session. Senate. Ex. Doc. No. 78. Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to 
a.scertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi 
River to the Pacific Ocean. Made under the direction of tin; Secretary of War, in 1853-6, 
according to Acts ol' Congress of March 8, 18.53, May 31, 1854, au<l August 5, 1854. Volume X. 
Washington: Beverly Tucker, Printer. 1859. 
1859 — Explorations and Surveys for a railroad route from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. 
War Dcjiartment. Fi.shes : By Charles Girard, M. i>. Washington, D. C, 1858. [xiv, 400 pp., 
with lllates VII-VIII, .XIII-XIV, XVII. XVIII, XXII, x.wi, x.xi.x, .\.\x, xxxiv, X.XXVII, XI., XLl, 
XLVIII, I.III, I.lX, I.XI, I.XIV, LXV, I.XXI.] 
1860 — Salmon Fishery on the Sacramento River. By C. A. Kirkpatrick. llutchiiigs's ('alifornia Mag- 
azine, V. 4, i>p. :529-5.34, June, 1860. 
I860 — 30th Congress, 1st Se.ssion. Senate. Ex. Doc. Reports of Explorations iind Surveys to :iscer- 
tain till' most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Missi.ssippi River to the 
Pacific Ocean. Made under the direction of the Secretary of War, in 18.5.3-5, .according to 
act of Congress of March 3, 18.53, May 31, 1854, and August 5, 1854. Volume xii. Uook II. 
Washington: Thomas H. Ford. Printer. 1860. 

Explorations and .Surveys for a Railroad routi' from the .Mi.ssissip|)i River to the Pacific 
Ocean. W.ar Department. Route near the; forty-seventh and forty-ninth jiarallels, 
explored by I. I. Stevens, Governor of Washington Territory, iu 1853-'55. [pp. 9-.S58, 
70 pi.] Zoological report. Washington, D. C, 1860. viii, (1), 399 jip., 47 pi. 

No. 5. Report upon the fishes collected on the survey. By Dr. (i. Suckley, IT. S. A. 
(pp. 307-368, with pi. I, .XI, xv, xvi, XI.\, xx, XXXII, XXXIII, XI.II, XLIII, xi.iv, I., LI, LV, 
i.x, LXiii, Lxvii, I. XIX, i.xxii, i..\x\', viz: 
Chapter I, Report iqimi tlie Saluiciuid;e. ]ip. 307-349.) 
[N. sp. .Salmo Manoni (34,^).] 
[This vol nine also appeared witli tin- lollowinji title pa<;e and luoclifirafinns;— ) 



miiLtOGRAPHY OF ALASKAN SALMONID.E. 43 

1860 — Tlio Natural Ilistcny of Wasliinifton Tenitdry, with much rclatinj; to Miuucsota, Nti- 
liia.ska, Kansas, ()rejj;on and Calit'oiuiu, lietwecn thr thirty -sixtli and f'urty-uiuth (larallels 
of Latitude, bcinj; those parts of the final Reports on the Snrvej- of the Northern Pacific 
Railroad Route, containing the Climate and Physical (ieo-jrajihy, with full Catalogues and 
Descriptions of the Plants and Animals collected from IffiS to 1857. By J. G. Cooper, M. i).. 
and Dr. (;. Suckley, IT. S. A., Naturalists to the Expedition. This edition contains a new 
jireface, giving a sketch of the explorations, a classified table of contents, and the latest 
additions by the authors. With fifty-five new plates of scenery, botany, and zoology, and 
an isothermal chart of the route. New York; Hailliirc Hrothers, 440 Broadway. 1H59. 
4-. xvii, L'6+72+\iii, 399 pji. (+ 1-t pp. betw.368 and 369), 01 pi., 1 map. 

1861 — Salmouidai of Frazer River, British Columbia. By C. Brew. Edinburg Ni^w I'liilos. .lourn., 
V. 13, p. Ui4, l»l!l. 

1861 — Notices of Certain New Species of North American Salmonida-, chietly in the collection of the 
N. W. Boundary CommLssion, in charge of Archibald Campbell, Esij., Commissioner of the 
United .States, by Dr. C. B. R. Keunerly, Naturalist to the Commission. By Ueorjje .Suckley, 
M. D., late Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Army. Read before the New York Lyceum of Natural 
History, Jane, 1861. Ajin. Lyo. Nat. Hist. New York, v. 7, pp. 306-313, 1862. 

[N.g. and sp. Sainw Kennerlyi (307), Satiau breoieauda (308), Salmo Watreni (308). Salmo liairdii (309), Salmo 
Parkei (30it), Oncorhynchiut, u. g., 312). A'a^mo CampbeUi (313).] 

1862 — Notices of certain new species of North American Salmonidie, chiefiy in the collection of the 

N. W. Boundary Commi.ssiou. By George Suckley, M. D. See 1861, June. 
1863 — Thi^ Resources of California, comprising Agriculture, .Mining, Geography, Climate, Commerce, 
etc., etc,, and the past and future developmeut of the State. By ,Johu .S. Hittel — San Fran- 
cisco; A. Roman & Company. NewYork: W. J. Middleton. 1863. [12^, .\vi, 464 pp.] 
[Zoology. ch.ip. vi (pp. 140-146) : fishing (pp. 313-317).] 
1865 — \'ancouver Island and British Columbia. Their History, Resources, and Prospects. By Mat- 
thew Macfle, P. R. Q. s., five years resident in Victoria, V. I. London : Longman, (ireen, Long- 
man, Roberts, and Green, 1865. [8 , xx pp. (including blank leaf and frontispiece), 1 1., !574 
jip., 2 maps.] 

Chiqiter V. fTent-ral Kesourcoa of Vancouver's LsUiud. Pp. 131-171. Fisheries, pp. 163-171. 
1866— The Naturalist in Vancouver Island and British Columbia. By .JoUn Keast Lord, F. z. s., 
Naturalist to the British North American Boundary Counnission. lu two volumes. Loudon: 
Richard Bentley, New Burlington street. Publisher in ordinary to Her Majesty. 
Voluiiiu I. Fishes, pj>. 1-19!>. Salmnnidte, pp. 36-100; Volume II, pp. 351-352. 
1866 — Catalogue of the Fishes in the British Museum. By Albert Giinther. . . . Volume sixth. 
London : printed by order of the trustees. 1866. 

Also entitled : Catalogue of the Physostomi, containing the families Salmonidip, Percop- 
8id;e. (Jalaxida', Moruiyrida', Gymuarchidai, Esoeidai, Umbriila', .Scombre.socida', Cyjiriuo- 
ilontiche, in the collection of the British Museum. . . . London: printed by order of tin! 
trustees. 1866. [8^ XV, 368 pp.] 
[N. sp. Salmo lordil (148).] 
1868 — The Natural Wealth of Californi.a. Comprising early history ; geography, topograjihy, and 
scenery; climate; agriculture and commercial products; geology, zoiilogy, .and botany; 
miiu-ralogy, mines, and mining processes; manufactures; steamship lines, railroads, and 
conuueree; inunigration, poiuilation, and society; e<lucational institutions anil literature; 
together with a detailed description of (^acli county; its t(>)>ograiphy, scenery, cities and 
towns, agricultural advantages, mim^ral resources, and varied ])r(iductions. By Titus Fey 
Crouise. San Francisco: H. H. Bancroft & Company. lS(i,S. [8 , .xvi, 696 ]>!>. | 
Chapter VII. Zoiilogy. pp. 434-501. 

Fishes. [By ,1. G. Cooiier, M. n.] ]>ii. 487-498. 

I'^islieries. ]). 680. Salmonidae : Salmo Scnulvfi, Mtisoul, sffllalits, irltlea, prfiioHus. 
[The list of fishes w;is evidently prepared hy Dr. ,T. G. C'ooj)er. aUhoiigli only general aekn<>\vledgnient for 
assistaiiee was rendered in the in-efaee. It was aeknnwledged hy L)r. (^toper, as author, in the eonimunica- 
tiou to the (Jalifornia Ai'adein,\' of Sciem-es, indieated ahovi'. Inasiiiiu-h as lliis was iiiteud*"ii to he a eoiuplete 
enumeration of the fishes uf California, the names are reprodut^ed here.) 



44 SALMON FISHERIES OP ALASKA. 

1870 — Alaska and its Resources. By William H. Dall, director of tlic Scientiflc Corps of tlic lato 
Western Union Telegraph expedition. Boston : Lee and Sliepard. 1X70. 

[Contains m.-xny rnfcriuicos to the fish of tlio Torritory throughout: Chaptiu- VI, I*.art II, is devoted entirely 
to fisheries ,ind otlier resources, while the Aj>inMulix (p. 579) gives list of tiie lislies of Alaslia.] 

1870 — (flier einige I'leuroneetiden, Salmonideu, Ciadoideu nnd Bli nniiden aiis der Decastris-Bay nnd 
von Viti-Levu. Von Franz Steindachner und well. Prof. Dr. Ru<lolpli Kner. Sitzli. K. 
Akud. Wiss.^nsih., B. Gl, AbtU. i, pp. 421-447, pi. 1, 1870. 

[Species identified .is common to Deeastris B.iy and the American coast.] 
1871— Tile Food Fislies of Alaska. By Willi.ini Healy Dall. Rep. Comni. Agrie., 1870, pp. .375-392, 1871. 

[14 species specified : no new species doscrilied.] 
1872 — I'Vtrty-second Congress, second session. .Senate Ex. Doc. No. 34. Mess.age from the President 
of tlil^ United States, eoininnnicating, in eoniplianee witli a resolution of tlie 19tli of .lanuary, 
1809, information in relation to the resources and extent of the lisliing-grounds of the North 
PacKic Oitean, opened to the United States liy the treaty of Alaska. [Washington: Goveru- 
meut Printing OHici^ 1872.— 8>^, 85 pp.] 

On p. 2 entitled "The Fisheries and Fislieniic ii of the Noilli Pacific." By Rich.ard D. 
Cutts. 
1873~.\ contribution to the Ichthyology of Alask:i. By E. 1). Copi'. ,Iaii. 17. 1S73. Proc. Am Pliil. 
Soc. Phila., V. 13, pp. 24-32, 1873. [Extras, March 11, 1873.] 

[17 species eniunerated : n. .sp. Ji<alm.o tudeg, SpratelUndva hnjoporvs, XipliUlinni cntnreuin, Ceiitntnotus hHlln, 
Chiruft halia!!, (.hints ordiuatttfi, Chirus tnt/rammtis. Animtulytcs (tla.wony.s, (ladiis jiiTim-iijiHs, fUtihix auratuK, 
Sathy master tciijnatuH, Pleuronectim arcu.atns.] 

1873 — Remarks on tlie I'Mslieries of British Columliia, liy the Agent (.James Cooper; of the Department 
of Marine and Fisheriis at Victoria. In: Ann. Re]). Di'pt. Marine and Fisheries, Caniida, 
for the year ended the 30th June, 1873, aiijiendix V, pp. 205-20G. 

1873 — Report on the Prybilov Group or S<!al Islands of Alaska. By Heiny W. Elliott, Assistant Agent 
Treasury Dopartinout. Washington : Government Printing Olliee. 1873. [4to, 16^ folios, 
not paged, with text parallel with hack, and extending from hotfom to top, .'iO phot. )il.] 
Chajiter VIII. Fish and Fisheries. 
1874 — Report of the Comiiiissiouers of Fislierios of the State of California for the years 1872 .and 
1873. — San Francisco: Francis & Valentino, printers and engravers, 517 Clay street; 1874. 
[8S28pp.] 
1874 — United States Commission of Fish and l''isheries. Part II. — Report of the Commissioner for 
1872 anil 1873. A — Inquiry into the decrease of the Food-Fishes. B — The prop.agation of 
Food-l''islies in the waters of the United States. With supplenuntary papers. Washing- 
ton: Government Printing Oflice. 1874. [8 , 5 pi., cii, (1), 808 pp., 38 pi., 3 maps folded.] 
Rei^ortofthe Commissioner, pp. i-xcii. 
Appendix B. — Tlie Salmon and the Trout (species of Salnio). pp. 89-384. 

III. — On the North American species of Salmon and Trout. By George .Snckley, sur- 
geon, United States Army. (Written in 1861.) pp. 91-160. 
VI. — Report of operations during 1872 at the United States Salmon-IIatchiug Estahlish- 
ment on the M'Cloud River, and on the California Saliuonidie generally; with a list 
of specimens collected. B.v Livingston Stone, pp. 168-215. 
XII. — On the Speckled Trout of Utah Lake, Salmo virginalis, Girard. By Dr. H. C. 

Yarrow, U. S. A. [etc.]. pp. 363-3G8. 
XIII. — Miscellaneous notes and correspondence relative to Salmon and Trout, (pji. 
369-379), viz:— 

D- — On the edible qualities of the Sacramento .S.almon. [By S. R. Throckmorton.] 

Pli. 373-374. 
E — On the Salinon Fisheries of the Sacr-imento River. [By Livingston Stone. | jip. 
374-379. 
1874 — Remarks on the S;iliuon Fisheries of British Coliliiiliia. In Rep. Comm. Fish. Canada for 

1874. pp. 165-170. 
1874^0u the edible qualities of the Sacramento Salmon. By Livingston Stone. Forest and Stream, 
v. 1, p. 331, Jan. 1, 1874. 



Bir.LIOGRAPHY OF ALASKAN SALMONID/E. 45 

1874 — rreipariiif; .Salnioii on Ihu C'ohiiiiliia KiviT. lij- Charles Nordlioff. Forest anil S(reniM, v. I, ji. 

397, Jan. 29, 1871. (From Harper's Now Monthly Magazine.) 
1874— On the Slteckled Trout of Utah Lake— Salmo virginalis, Girard. By Dr. li. C. Yarrow, U. 

S. A. Am. Sport.sniau, v. 4, pp. 68, 69, May 2, 1874. 
1874— California Salmon ; its rapidity of growth. [By Livingston Stoue.] Forest and Stream, v. 2, 

p. 260, .June 4. 1874. 
1874 — Will the Colnmhia Salmon take the Fly? [Anon.] Am. Sport.sman, v.4, p. 166,,)niic IS, 1874. 
1874— The Salmon Fisheries of Oregon. [By A.] Forest and Stream, v. 2, ji. 290, .Innc 18, 1871. 
1874 — Sacramento Salmon vs. Eastern Salmon. [By Livingston Stone.] Am. Sportsman, v. 1 1. ]i. 

198, .June 27, 1874. 
1874 — Ichthyie Fauna of Northwestern America. [By Mortimer Kerry, p-seuduii. .1. 11. Mnrjihy.] 

Forest and Stream, v. 2, pp. 356, 3.57 (i eol.), July 16, 1874. 
1874 — The Salmonida^ of the Pacific. [By Mortimer Kerry, psciniuii. .1. M. Murphy. | Finest and 

Stream, v. 2, pp. 369, 370 (6 c), July 23. 1874. 
1874 — SalmoQuiunat anil Salmo Salar. [By Charles G. Atkins.] Forest and .stream, \. 2, pp. 388,389 

(2 e.), .July 30, 1874. 
1874 — Oregon Salmon Fisheries. [From " Portland Oregonian.'] Am. Sportsman, v. 4, |i. 378, 

Se])temher 12, 1874. 
1874 — Sahnon I''isherle8 on the Colnmliia. .Vm. Sportsmau, v. I, ji. 112, September 26, 1871. 
1874 — The Salmon Flshm-ies ofOn^gon. Forest and Stream, v. 3, pp. 1.55, 172, October 15, 22, 1871. 
1874 — Annual Record of Science and Industry for 1873. Edited by Spencer F. Baird, with the assist- 
ance of eminent men of science. — New York: Harper & Brothers, publlsheis, Franklin 

Square. 1874. [12- .] 
Shipments Eastwar<l of ('allfornia Salmon, p. 433. 
Taking California Salmon with the Hook, ji. 464. 
1875 — The Oregon Salmon Fisheries. [.-Ihwh.] Forest and Stream, vol. 5, p. 230, Nov. 18, 1875. 
1875 — On what do Salmon Feed? [Editorial from E. J. Hooper's observations.] Forest and Stream, 

vol. 5, p. 280, De<^ 9, 1875. 
1875 — What do Salmon eat* By 1\. Tallant. Forest and Stream, vol. 5, p. 308, Hec. 23, 1875. 
1875 — A rep(ut on the condition of afl'airs in the Territory of Alaska. By Henry W. Elliott, spe- 
cial agent of the Treasury Department. Washingtim: Goverinuent Printing OfSce. 1875. 

[8-, 277 pp.] 
Cha]>ter VIII. — F'lsh and Fisheries. The Fisheries of Alaska. ]ip. 165-167. 
[TIii.s is t'ssriitially a si-cimil cititinii nf tin- riipnrt of Mr. I'^lliott, piiljlislu'd in 187;{. | 
1875 — Extract fnmi the .\uunal Report of the British t!olnmbiaii Agent of the Departmi'Ut of 

Marine and Fisheries (James Cooper, esc|.), dated at Victoria, 28th July, 1875. In Rep. Ciunm. 

Fish., 1875. or Sujppl. No. 4, Ann. Rej). Minister Marine and Fisheries, Canada, pp. 219-221. 
1876 — ITie Natural and Fconomic History of the .Salmonida — geographical distribution and aitilicial 

culture. By Pliilo-Ichthyos. Forest and Stream, pp. 68-69 (No. 3), 106 (No. 4), 116 (No. 5), 

131 (No. 6), 147 (No. 7), 164 (No. 8), 179 (No. 9). 
1875 — Salmon Fisheries on the Columbia River. [Aiion. By Barnet Phillips. From .Vppleton's 

.Journal.] Rod and Gnu, vol. 8, pp. 131-132, May 27, 1876, with 2 ligs. 
1875 — The Big Fish [salmon weighing UH) jioundsj of Alaska. lAnoii.] Forest and Stream, vol. 7, 

pp. 213-214, Nov. 9, 1876. 
1875 — Habits of Pacific Salmon. [By Livingston Stone.] Forest and Stream, vol. .5, p. 372, .Ian. 20, 

1876. 
1876 — Annual Kecord of Science and Industry for 1875. Kdlti'd by Spencer V. Baird, with the assist- 
ance oi' eminent men of science. New Y'ork : Harper A Brothers, Puldishers, Franklin 

Snuarc. 1876. [12-.] 

.Sahmm in the San .loa(|uin. ]>p. 430-431. 
Salmon Trade of the Cidumbia River, pp. 431-432. 
Salmon in the Sacramento River, p. 432. 

United States Salmon-hatching KstJibllshmcnt, ]i|>. 4.34-435. 
1876 — Report of the lusiiector of Fisheries for British Columbia, for the year of 1876. In Rep. Comm. 

Fish. 1876 or Su]ipl. No. 4, Ann. Rep. Minister Marine and Fisheries, Canada, pp. 339-347. 

(Statistics on pp. ix-xi of same Rei)ort.) 



46 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

1877— The Trout i>f Washingtou Territory. Forest auil Stream, vol. 7, p. 113, Feb. 1, 1877. 

1877— Canned Salmon, [./noii.] Forest and Stream, vol. 8, j). 32, Feb. 212, 1877. 

1877— The Orefron Fislieri&s. [Anon. From "Pacific Life."] Forest and Stream, vol.8, ji. 49, 

Mar. 1, 1877. 
1877 — Hatching (ni the t'olumliia. Forest and Stream, vol. 8, j). 420, .July 2ti, 1877. 
1877— Canning Salmon. Forest and Stream, vol. II, p. 88, Sept. 6, 1877. 

1877— The Salmon Fi.sheries of California. Forest and Stream, vol. 9, p. 233, Oct. 2.5, 1877. 
1877— Salmon Trout on the Pacific Coast. Forest and Stream, vol. 9, p. 247, Nov. 1, 1877. 
1877 — More about McLeod River Trout. Forest and Stream, vol. 9, p. 247, Nov. 1, 1877. 
1877 — The Spt)rtsman's Gazetteer and General Guide. The Game Animals, Birds and Fishes of North 

America; their habits and various methoils of capture. Copious Instructions in Shooting, 

Fishing, Ta.xidermy, Woodcraft, etc. Together with A Directory to the Principal Game 

Resorts of the Country; illustrated with maps. By Charles Hallock, editor of Forest and 

Stream, author of the " Fishing Tourist," " Camp Life in Florida," etc. Now York: Forest 

and Stream Publishing Company, American News Company, agents. 1877. [12-, 668 pp., 

+ 208 pp., 3 nuips, 1 portrait. 

Part I. — Game Animals of North America. Fishes of the Northwest, pp. 389-353. Pacific 
Coast Fislw's, pp. 3.51-369. 
1877 — Keport of the Ins])ector of Kisheries for British Columbia for the year 1877. In Reji. ('omm. 

Fish. 1877, or Supjil. No. 5, Ann. Rep. Minister Marine au<l I'Msheries, Canada, pp. 287-308. 
1877 — Manual of the Vertebrates of the Northern United States, including the district east of the Mis- 
sissippi River and north of North Carolina and Tennessee, exclusive of marine species. 

By David Starr Jordan, ph. i>., m. d., Professor of Natural History in Butler University. 

Second edition, revised and enlarged. — Chicago: Janseu, McClurg & Co., 1878. [12^, 407 

pp., pub. May 16.] 
[ContaiiiH syniipsia of the .Vmerican Salmonina! and Oorcgo7iin(K.] 
1877 — The Heaviest American Salmon. [Notice of one weighing 82 ]>ouuds caught at the mouth of 

the Columbia River. By .John Goudy.] Forest and Stream, v. 10, p. 265, May 9, 1878. 
1877— Salmon canning on Fraser River. [By Fred. Mather.] Chicago Field, v. 9, p. 196, May 1.5, 1878. 
1877 — Salmon canning in Oregon and California. [Editorial. With three woodcuts.] Forest and 

Stream, vol. 10, p. 398, .June 27, 1878. 
1878 — Salmon canning in Ahiska. An account of the objections of the Indians to the landing of a 

lot of Chinese fish-canners. [From Alaska Cor. N. Y. Sun.] Chicago Field, vol. 9, p. 371, .July 

27, 1878. 
1878 — The Labrador .and Columbia River Fisheries. [From the New York Sun.] Forest and Stream, 

vol. 10, p. 507, Aug. 1, 1878. 
1878— The Eraser River Salmon Season. [From the New York World.] Forest and Stream, vol. 11, 

p. .50, Aug. 22, 1878. 
1878 — Salmon-canning on Columbia River. An account of the process, with statistics. By Fred. 

Mather. Chicago Field, vol. 10, p. 101, Sept. 28, 1878. 
1878 — The Salmon Fishery. In The Commercial Products of the Sea. By P. L. Simmonds, 1878, pp. 

75-76. 
1878. — Report of the Inspector of Fisheries for British Columbia for the year 1878. In Rep. Comm. 

Fish. 1878, or Suppl. No. 4, Ann. Rep. Minister Marine and Fisheries, Canada, pp. 292-303. 

(Salmon, 292-297, 299; statistics, .301-303.) 
1879 — The Fisheries and Other Resourc(« of Alaska. By H. A. K. Chicago Field, V(d. 10, p. 395, Feb. 

1,1879. [F. M.] 
1879— Fish and Fishing of Oregon. [By Wni. Lang.] Forest and Stream, vol. 12, p. 3.5, Feb. 13, 1879. 
1879 — Interesting Facts from Washington Territory. [By Chs. Bendire.] Forest and Stream, vol. 

12, p. 154, M;ir. 27, 1879. 

[RetVr.i to " Salmo Kemwrlyi," etc.] 
1879— Salmon fishing in Oregon. [By H. B.] Forest and Stream, vol. 12, p. 174. Apr. 3, 1879. 
1879 — The Fishes and Birds of the Pacific Coiist. [By Calamink, jisniilnn, of .John L. Wilson. | Chi- 
cago Field, vol. 11, p. 163, Apr. 26, 1879. 



BIHLIOGRAl'HY OF ALASKAN SALMoNID.K. 47 

1879 — I Iocs the WrstiTii Saliiioii (lir ;it'tcr sp;i\viiiiii; ? [By Major, ^i-icHf/fiH.] Cliie:igci Fjold, Mil. 11, 

p. 221. May 17.1879. 
1879 — Calil'oniia SalniDii do not all die al'tor .spawniuj;. [liy B. B. KiMldiiiLj.J tHiii^ano Ficdd, vcd. 11, 

p. 23t), May 24, 187!). 
1879 — Alaska in BunuinT. — Sccoiid paper. [By " I'iscco," i. v. Lester Brardsli'e.J Forest and .Strt'am, 
. vol. 13, !>. 558, An;;-. 14, 1879. 

lUclor-s, inter ;ili;l8, to i':ij»ture .and curiuj; of hjUiuoh ut Port Ilimt^r.) 

1879 — Larfjist Salmon on Re-cord. [Aiiiiii.] Forest and Stream, vol. 13, ]i.557, Ang. 14, 1879. 

I •■ \'l(;TnuiA, June 2(i. — .\ salmon that \vim;;Iii-{1 OH pounds when ciuij^iit lias beon rrfoivi-d lirro from the 
•Skf'ona Kiver fishery by Mr. Xnrnor, mayor of Victoria. Its U'Uirtii is .') feet 11 iueliea from imse to tail."] 

1879 — The Fraser River Salmon Season. [From the New York World.] Forest and Stream, vol. 11, 

p. 50, AiiK. 22, 1878. 
1879— The Paeilic Salmon Fisheries. [Jhoh.] Chieago Field, vol. 12, ]). (HI, Sept. 13, 1879. 
1879 — Salmon Caiuiino on Colnmliia Kiver. An aeeoiint of the jiroeess, with statistics. By Fred. 

Mather. Chieago Field, vol. 10, p. 101, Sept. 28, 1878. [F. M.] 
1879 — Salmon Fishing on the Paeilic. [Incomplete. By C. R.J Forest and Sti eani, vol. 13, p. 689, Oct. 

2, 1879. 
1879— The Oamc^ and Fish ol' Alaska. [By "Piseco," i. e. Lester Beardslee, U. S. N.] I'orest and 

Stream, vol. 13, pp. 723-724, Oct. l(i, 1879. 
1879 — The K'edlish of the Northwest. [By Ch. Bendire. With editorial note.J Forest aiul Stream, 

vol. 13, 11. 745, Oet. 23, 1879. 
1879 — Fishing in Gray's Harbor [i. e. Salnion-lishery]. Anon. From " Olympia (Washington Terr.) 

Transcript." Chieago Field, vol. 12, pji. 164, 1G5. Oct. 25, 1879. 
1879— Salmon Fishing on the I'aciHc. [By C. R.J Forest and Stream, vol. 13, p. 767, Oct. 30, 1879. 
1879 — Why Salmo (Jninnat does not take the Fly. [Editorial.] Forest and Stream, vol. 13, p. 770, Oct. 

30, 1879. 
1879— The Retltish of Idaho. By Charles Bemlire. Fori'st and Stream, vol. 13, p. 806, with lig., Nov. 

13, 1879. 

[Tile figure appears to represent Hysifario kennerlyi.} 

1879 — Annual Kcnord of Science and Indnstry for 1878. Edited liy Spencer F. Baird, with the assist- 
ance of eminent men of science. New York: Harper A- Brothers, publishers, Franklin 
Scinare. 1879. [12^.] 

The North Ameriian Tront and Salmon, pp. 467-470. 

1879 — Report of Alex. C. Anderson, esc]., inspector of fisheries for the province of Briti.sli Colnmbia. 
In Ann. Keii. Minister Marine and Fisheries, Canada, 1879, Snppl. No. 2, p]i. 280-301. (Sal- 
mon, 280-286, 290-292; statistics, 296-301.) 

1879 — Partial list of charts, maps, and pnblications relating to Alaska and the adjacent region, from 
Pnget Sound ,nnd Hakodadi to the Arctic Ocean, between the Rocky and the Stanovoi 
Mountains. By W. H. Dall and Marcus Baker. In United States Coast and Geodetic 
Surve.v, Carlile P. Patterson, Superintendent. Pacific Coast Pilot, Coasts and Islands of 
Alaska. Second series. Washington: (iovernment Printing Office, 1879, pp. 163-376. 

1880 — The Salmon Industries of Oregon. In the Popnlar Science Monthly, pp. 573, 574, vol. xvi, No. 

4, Feliriiary, 1880. 

1880— The Surf Smelt of the Northwest Coast, and the Method of taking them liy the Qiiillehiitc In- 
dians, west coast of Washington Territory. By .James (i. Swan. In Proceedings U. .S. Nat. 
Museum, V(d. Ill, pp. 43-46, May 6, 1880. 
[Refers to llyiminevn^ pretiosiis Girard, under tlie name Hiiinniiait/*f oliduv.\ 

1880 — Notes on California fishes. Salmonldw. B.v W. N. Lockington. In American Naturalist, vol. 
XIV, No. 5, pp. 366-368, M.ay, 1880. 
[The smelt called Uypomesus olidus is H. pretumus.] 
1880 — The Eulachon or Candle-fish of the Northwest Co.ast. By James G. Swan. In Proceedings U. 

5. Nat. Museum, v(d. ill, pp. 257-264, September 15, 1880. 
[The sand smelt referreil to on ji. 25rt i.s Hypomesus j>reh'ost/«.] 

1380 — Report of Alex. C. Anderson, es([., inspector of fisheries for the iir<ivince of British Colnmbia, 
with statistics of tisheries. In Ann. I\'ep. Minister of Marine imd Fisheries, Canada, 1880, 
Suppl. No. 2, pp. 257-273. (Salmon, 257, 258, 264, 265 ; statistics, 268, 273.) 



48 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

1880 — All Introfluctioii to tlii' Study of Fiwlies. By Allicrt C. L. G. Giiiither, M. A., M. r>., rii. i>., r. R. s., 
keeper of the zodloj^ieal deiiartmeiit in the liritish Mnseuin. E(liiil)urj;, A(him and t'harles 
Black, 1880. 
1881. — British Columbia. Report of A. C. Auilorson, es(i., inspector of fisheries, with fishery sta- 
tistics. Ann. Rep. Dept. Marine and Fislieries, Canada, Siippl. No. 2, pp. 202-227. 
1882— /6»rf, Suppl. No. 2, pp. 198, 199. 

1883— /7rtrf, Suppl. No. 2, pp. 190-207. (Salmon, 190-192; statistics, 200-207.) 

1883 — Great International Fisheries Exhibition, London, 1883. United States of America. F. Cata- 
logue of the collections of fishes exhibited by the U. S. National Museum. By Tarletim H. 
Bean, curator of the department of lishes in the United States National Museum. Wash- 
ington: Government Printing OtUce, 1883, pp. 387-510. 
[ThB -Vluskan lislu-a, Salmonida:. ]ip. 393-397, 415-419.] 
1883 — The Sportsman's Gazoteer and General Guide; the game animals, birds, and fishes of North 
America, their hal)its, and various methods of capture; also iustru<-tioiis in shooting, lish- 
iug, taxidermy, woodcraft, etc., together with a glossary. Kev., eul., ami brought down to 
date by the author. 111., maps, and imrtrait. New York, 1883. 
1883 — Statistics of the Fisheries of the United States in 1880. Bulletin U. S. Fish Commission, vol. 
Ill, 1883, pp. 270, 271. 

^Contains itvms about Ala.ska.] 
1884 — Report on the Population, Industries, and Resources of Alaska. By Ivan Petnitl', special agent. 
Pages 189. Coloreil plates. Dcpartnieut ol' the Interior, Census Uliice, etc., etc., Rei)ort, 
voL VIII. Washington: Government Printing OtHce, 1884. 
[Frequent refereneea to fish and tiaheries throujihout.] 
1884 — Statement of the Catch of the Several Companies Engaged in the Salmon Fishc^ries in Kadiak 
district, Alaska Territory, during the year 1883. By Wm. ,1. Fisher. Bulletin U. S. Fish 
Commission, vol. IV, 1884, p. 134. 
1884— Report of the Secretary of the Interior for the fiscal year ending June 30, 18S4, vol. u, pp. 
586-588. 

I fuorf-/ie)ie» extracted from papers by Hon. Jaiuea C!. .Swan upon "Tin- I'ood-fisliea and food products of I'uget 
Sound, by Wataon C Squire."] 
1284 — United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, Spencer F. Baird, Commissioner. The Fish- 
eries and Fishery Industries of the United States. Prei)iLred through the cooperation of the 
Commissioner of Fisheries and the .Sui>erinlcndent of the Tenth Census. By George Brown 
Gootle, assistant director of the U. S. National Museum, and a staff of associates. 

Section I. Natural liistory of useful a<iuatic animals with an atlas of 270 plates. Text. 

Washington: Government Printing OtHce, 1884. 
The Salimms of the Pacific. By David S. Jordan, pp. 474-179. 

The (iuiniiat or California salmon (y«coi7iync/iHs (7ioH»7i((). Hy Livingston Stone, pp. 
479-485. 
1884 — British Columbia : Report of George Pittendrigh, esq., inspector of fisheries, with fishery sta- 
tistics. In Ann. Rep. Dept. Fish., Canada, 1884, pp. 258-267. 

[Salmon, pp. 258-259: atatiatica. pp. 2'i3-267.] 

1885 — British Columbia: Report of George Pittendrigh, esq., inspector of fisheries, with fishery sta- 
tistics. In Ann. Rep. Dejit. Fish., Canada, 1885, pp. 273-297. (Salmon, 273-275, 283. 290; 
onlachou, 277; statistics, 292-297. 

1885 — Report of the International Polar Expedition to Point.Barrow, Alaska, in res]Minse (o the reso- 
lution of the House of R<'i>resent:itives of December 11, 1.S84. Wiishington: tiovernnient 
Printing Office, 1885. Part iv. Natural History. By John Murdoch, a. m.. Sergeant Sig- 
nal Corps, U. S. Army. 

[Fi.ahes, pp. 129-132. ScUmonidce. pp. 131, 132.] 

1885— Reiiort of the Secretary of the Interior for the fiscal year ending June 30, 18H5. \'ol, n, 1885, 
pp. 1075, 1076. 
Food-Jishes nnd other Marine Food Prodiiets of Puijel Sound, in report of the governor of 
Washington T'erritory, Watson C. Sciuire. 



BIlJLIOGUArHY OF ALASKAN SALMONIDiE. 49 

1886 — Coiitribntious to the Natiinil History of Alaska. Kosults of iuvestiKatioiis made chiefly in 
llie Yulioii Distriet ami the Aleutian Islands; conducted under the auspices of the Signal 
Service, U. S. Army, extendiuf^ from May, 1874, to August, 1881. Prepared under the di- 
rection of Brig, and Bvt. Maj. Gen. W. B. Hazen, Chief Signal OtScer of the Army, by L. M. 
TurniT. No. II, Arctic series of publications issued in connection with the Signal Service, 
U. S. Army. With 26 plates. Washington: Government Printing Office. 1886. 
[Partly. Fishes, pp. 87-113. Plates l-xv. Salmonidte, jyp. 102-lU]. 
1886 — Report of the Secretary of the Interior for the tiscal year ending June 30, 1886. Vol. ii, pp. 
860 and 944. 
Brief note on Fisheries, in Report of the Goveruorof Washington Territory, Watson C. Squire. 
Note on the Fisheries, iu Report of the Governor of Alaska, A. P. Swineford. 
1886 — Kongl. Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar. Baudot 21, No. 8. Kritisk Forteckning 
iifver de i Kik.smusinini bctintliga Salmonidcr. Af F. A. Smitt. Med 6 taflor. Till Kongl. 
Vet. Akad. Inlemnail den 14 .Januari, 188.5. Stockholm, 1886. Kongl. Boktryckeriet. P. 
A. Norstedt & Siiner. Pages 290, tables of measurements, etc., 13, plates (double) i-vi, 
containing tigures 1-101 a. 

[A work whi<!U cost a prodigious amount of labor, but its valuo iw greatly impaired by the -vvant of a table of 
contents, index, cbapterbeadings, and other aids usually provided for readers. In the measurement tables the 
species are not even grouped according to their affinities.] 

1886 — Annual Report on the Fisheries of British Columbia for the year 1886, by Mr. Thomas Mowat, 
inspector. In Ann. Rept. Dept. Fish., Canada. 1886. pp. 247-279. 
[SalmonidiB, pages 247-252, 266, 270. Statistics, 274-279.] 
1886 — Our New Alaska ; or, the Seward purchase vindicated. By Charles Hallock. Pages 768, ill. 

[Contains many notes on the fisheries.] 
1886 — Our Arctic Province, Alaska, and the Seal Lslands. By Henry W. Elliott. Pages 772, ill. 
and maps. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. 
[Contains extended notes on fisheries.] 
1387 — United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, Spencer F. Baird, Commissioner. The Fish- 
eries and Fishery Industries of the United States, etc. Section ill. 
The Fishing Resources and Fishing-Grounds of Alaska. By Tarleton H. Beau, pp. 81-115. 
1887 — United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, Spencer F. Baird, Commissioner. The Fish- 
eries and Fishery Industries of the United States, etc. Section v, vol. i. 
The Salmon Fishing and Canning Interests of the Pacific Coast. By David Starr Jordan 
and Charles H. Gilbert, pp. 731-7.53. 
1887 — Report of the cruise of the Revenue Marine steamer Corwin in the Arctic Ocean in the year 

1885. By Capt. M. A. Healy, U. S. R. M., commander. Washington: Government Printing 
Office, 1887. 

[Fishes, in notes by Charles H. Townsend, p. 95. Two poorly colored plates.] 
1837 — Report upon Natural History Collections made in Alaska between the years 1877 and 1881, by 
Edward W. Nelson. Edited by Henry W. Henshaw. Prepared under the direction of the 
Chief Signal Officer. No. Ill, Arctic series of publications, i,ssued in connection with the 
Signal Service, U. S. Army, with 21 plates. Washington : Government Printing Office, 1887. 
Field Notes on Alaskan Fishes. By Edward W.Nelson, with additional notes by Tarle- 
ton H. Bean, pp. 295-322. 
[Salnionidas, pp. 313-320.] 
1887 — Note im Fisheries of Alaska. By Peter French. Bulletin U. S. Fish Commission, vol. vi, for 

1886, p. 462. 

1887 — The Fisheries of Alaska. By Lieut. Schwatka. Bulletin U. S. Fish Commission, vol. vi, for 

1886, )ip. 462, 463. 
1887 — Report of the Secretary of the Interior for the tiscal year ending June 30, 1887, \ol. i, jip. 
708-710 and 976-978. 
Fish and fisheries, in Report of the Governor of Alaska, A. P. Swineford. Salmon mentioned, 

pp. 708-710. 
The Salmon Fishericx, iu Report of the Governtir of Washington Territory, Eugene Semple, pp. 
976-978. Salmon statistics, p. 977. 

S. Mis. 192 1 



50 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 

1887 — Annual l\(;]>iiit nu the Fisheries of IJritish Columbia lor the ye:ir 1XS7. By Mr. Tlionias Mowat, 

iuBjiector. In Aun. Kept. Dept. Fish., Canada, 1887, pp. 239-2(iS. 
1888 — Annual Koport on the Fisheries of Hritish Columbia for the year 18S8. liy Mr. Thomas Mowati 

iuspeetor. In Ann. Ee)>t. Dept. Fish., Canada, 1888, pp. 233-255. 
[British Columbia S.alinou Pack tor thirteou yoars, ]i. 235.] 
1888 — The salmon fisheries of the Columbia River. Rejiort of Maj. W. A. Jones, Corps of Engineers. 

Senate Ex. Doe. No. 123, Fiftieth Congress, first session. Pages 62, seventeen jilates, two 

maps, two diagrams. 
1888 — Report of the Seeretary of the Interior for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888. Vol. ill, pp. 

901-903 and 979, 980. 
Salmon fisheries, in Kejjort of the Governor of Washington Territory, Eugene Semple, pp. 

901-903. 
Fish and fisheries, in Report of the Governor of Alaska, A. I'. Swiueford, jip. 979,980. Relates 

ehiolly to salmon. 
1889 — Report of the cruise of the Revenue Marine steamer Corwin in the Arctic Ocean in tlii^ year 

1884. By Capt. M. A. Ilealy, U. S. R. M., commander. Washington: Government Printing 

Office, 1889. 

[Fish of thi) Kowak R;ver, page 106.J 
1889 — Fur Seal and other Fisheries of Alaska. Report No. 3883, House of Representatives, Fiftieth 

Congress, second session (to accompany bill H. R. 12432). 

[App. B, pp. xx.xiv— .\Lni, rolatu lu Salmou aud other (isherioa. Salnioi), pages xxxiv. xm. ami XLMi.] 
1889 — Annual Report on the Fisheries of British Columbia for the year 1889, by Inspector Thomas 
Mowat. In Annual Rep. Uept. Fish., Canaila, 1889, xii>. 247-254. 

[Statistics of British Colambia Salmon Pack for fourteen years, on page 249.] 
1890 — Report of the Secretary of the Interior for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, vol. iii, pp. 234- 

236 and 545-548. 
Fisheries, in Report of Governor of Alaska, Lymaii E. Knapp, jip. 234-236. Salmon, j)}!. 234, 235. 
Fisheries, in Report of the Governor of Washington Territory, Miles C. Moore, pp. 515-548. 

Salmon, 545, 546. 
1890 — Annual Report of the Secretary of the Interior for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, vol. ill, 

pp. 449, 450. 
Fisheries, in Report of the Governor of Alaska, Lyman E. Knapp. Sabnon Statistics, p. 449. 
1890 — Annual Report on the Fisheries of Hritish Columbia for the year 1890, by Inspector Thomas 

Mowat, Suppl. No. 1 to the Annual Report of the Department of Fisheries, Canatla, 1890, pp. 

173-191. 
1890 — The Alaskan Salmou and their Allies. By Tarleton H. Bean, Ichthyologist of the United States 

Fish Couunis?sion. In Transactions American Fisheries Society, 1890, pp. 49-66, pis. l-vu. 

(Also published separately for the author, pp. 1-2U, pla. l-vn.]' 
1890 — Report on the Salmon and Salmon Rivers of Alaska, with Notes on the Conditions, Methods, and 

Needs of the Salmon Fisheries. By Tarleton H. Beau, Ichthyologist U. S. Fish Commission. 

Washington: Government Printing Otfic<;, 1890. Mis. Doc. No. 211, Fifty-first Congress, first 

session, jiages 50, pis. 1-43. 

[Kepriuteil in Bull. U. S. F. C, IX, 1889, pp. 165-208, pis. XLV-LXxxvn.j 
1890— The Alaskan Salmon and their Allies. By Dr. Tarleton H. Bean. In Forest and Stream, April 

3 and April 10, 1890. 
1890 — Exj>lorations of the Fishing Grounds of Alaska, Washington Territory, ;ind Oregon, during 

1888, by the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Albatross, Lieut. Commander Z. L. Tanner, U. S. 

Navy, commanding. Bulletin U. S. Fish Commission, vol. vill, for 1888, pp. 1-95, Pis. i-xu. 
[Contains frequent references to salmon, pp. 20-69.] 
1891 — Report on the Salmon and Salmon Rivers of Alaska, with Notes on the Conditions, Methods, 

and Needs of the Salmon Fisheries. By Tarleton II. Bean, Ichthyologist U. S. Fish Com- 
mission, Pis. XLV-Lxxxvil. Bulletin U. S. Fish Commission, vol. ix, for 1889, pp. 165-208. 

Reprint of H. R. Mis. Doc. No. 211, Fifty-first Congress. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ALASKAN SALMONID/E. 51 

1891 — Report on tins FisherieH of the Pikr.ific Coast of the lluiteil States, by •'■ W. Collins, in Ri]ii)rt 
U. S. Couunlssiouer Fish and Fisheries for 1888, iip. 3-269. 
[Pa{!ti8 7-8 aud Pis. xxi-xxn relatu tn ealiiion iiuluslry.] 
1891 — Annual Ke[iort of the Dcpartnn'nt of Fishcrirs, Dominion of Canada, for tho year 1890. I'rinti-d 
by order of Parliament. Ottawa: Printed liy Brown Clianiberlin, Printer to the Queen's 
Most ExeeUent Majesty, 18'J1. 

Appendix No. 4. .Special Report liy Mr. .S. Wihriot on the Salmon Fishery and Fishery 
Regulations of Fraser River, B.C. 1. The Canning Industry; 2. The Fishery Regula- 
tions; 3. SuppU'iuentary l*ages, (i3-77, four eolored plates. 
1892 — Ilulletin No. 1. Salmon and Trout of the Pacilie Coast. By Dr. David Starr .Jordan, presideTit 
of (he Lelaud Stanford Junior University. Saeramento: State Office, A. .1. Johnstone, .Super- 
intendent State Printing, 1892. 
Salnum and Trout of the Pacific Coast. (Pages 5-19.) 



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